Minister offers to resign, says no business links with nephew
With the UPA Government facing a fresh crisis, the top leadership of the Congress went into a huddle on Saturday to discuss Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal's fate following his nephew's arrest by the CBI for allegedly trying to fix top level promotions in the Railway Board.
Though hugely embarrassed, the Congress Core Group (CCG) decided to stick with Bansal for the time being, especially in view of the Karnataka Assembly polls on Sunday, as his resignation could damage the electoral prospects of the party in the State.
For his part, Bansal met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh twice during the day and even offered to resign. later, he presented his stance before Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other CCG members. The Congress remained tightlipped on the meeting but sources said that Bansal maintained he had no business links with his nephew and expressed his wish to explain his position in Parliament. The CCG is likely to meet again on Sunday to take a decision.
Distancing himself from his nephew Vijay Singla, Bansal also issued a statement: “Regarding yesterday's (Friday) incident involving my sister's son in a CBI raid in Chandigarh, I have to say that I had no knowledge or clue about the matter at all. Though a close relative, he or any other relative of mine does not and cannot meddle in my official functions or influence my decisions. There is also no business relationship between his and my family. I have always observed highest standards of probity in public life and look forward to an expeditious investigation by the CBI in the matter.”
While Singla was remanded in CBI custody for four days by a Delhi court, a special court in Mumbai granted two days' transit remand for Member (Staff) of the Railway Board Mahesh Kumar who was later suspended by the Railway Ministry. The Ministry also issued a statement seeking to assert that the appointment of Members of Railway Board, Financial Commissioner (Railways) and Chairman, Railway Board could not be influenced as these were governed by Tenure linked Norms approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and notified by the Government.
As for “further aspirational postings said to be desired by Mahesh Kumar”, the Ministry said “no relevant Board level post is vacant at present”. It also said there was no wrongdoing in Kumar's appointment.
However, later in the day Railway Board Member (Staff) Mahesh Kumar, who allegedly gave Rs 90 lakh bribe to Bansal's nephew, was suspended, ADG PR, Railways said.
The Congress staunchly defended Bansal and rejected the demands for his resignation. Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi said that it has become a disease of the Opposition to make such demands.
“The Railway Minister himself has given a clarification and said that there should be a thorough probe into the matter. I don't think we can expect anything more from him,” Dwivedi said.
Notwithstanding Dwivedi's statement, the development has come as a shock and surprise in Congress circles as Bansal has a clean and non-controversial image.
The party wants to buy time before a decision could be taken on Bansal's fate. At the CCG meeting there was a division within the party about the future course of action with one section wanting to save the Railway Minister and another cautioning against the adverse fallout.
For the Congress, the controversy could not have come at a more inopportune time. It is already facing heat with the Opposition stalling Parliament demanding the resignation of law Minister Ashwani Kumar over vetting of the CBI's status report on the coal scam and the Supreme Court due to hear the issue on May 8. The Government is also facing the wrath of the combined Opposition on the JPC report on the 2G spectrum issue. Any hope that it had of ensuring Parliament to function from Monday by holding a debate on Chinese incursion has now dimmed.
CBI sources said Rs 2 crore was the alleged bribe amount that was agreed upon between Singla and Kumar for an interim arrangement allowing the latter to keep additional charge of Western Railway till his new posting as Member (Electrical).
Besides Singla, three others Sandip Goyal, Dharmendra Kumar and Vivek Kumar were also remanded by Special CBI Judge Swarana Kanta Sharma till May 8 for custodial interrogation by the agency.
Middleman Sandeep Goyal had allegedly promised Mahesh Kumar to arrange the plum post of Member (Electrical) in Railway Board in return for promised Rs 10 crore, which needed time till the retirement of present members, the sources said.