New Delhi: Hours after Congress leader slammed the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) over the coal blocks allocation controversy, Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal on Friday lashed out at the auditing body.
The minister said that fact could not be brushed aside that an earlier CAG was given a Parliamentary seat and went on to become the governor. This was in reference to the mention of former CAG TN Chaturvedi by Digvijaya Singh. The Congress leader had pointed that after Chaturvedi came out with the Bofors report, had later got a BJP ticket and also became a governor during their tenure.
The Coal Minister further defended Cabinet colleague Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, who is facing the heat for recommending his brother for coal blocks allocation.
Jaiswal questioned if a brother of a minister did not have the right to get a coal block. He further said, "If a person with name Jaiswal is allotted coal block, what is the objection, if he deserved to be given?"
Jaiswal also reiterated that no coal block was given during his regime.
This came days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his statement over the coal blocks allocation, had slammed the CAG saying its report was disputable.
"I wish to say that any allegations of impropriety are without basis and unsupported by the facts. I seek the indulgence of the House to make a statement on issues regarding coal block allocations. I want to assure honourable members that as the then minister in charge, I take full responsibility for the decisions of the ministry," said the Prime Minister.
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