UPA (2006-2007) Govt. under PM involved in huge coal looting: BJP

New Delhi: The UPA Govt., at the Centre has already been involved in many economic offences of bribery and misuse of money in CWG, 2G Spectrum and many other scandals of large-scale corruption, to which BJP has added the 85,000 crore rupees coal scam now. Moreover, PM Manmohan Singh has been directly made an accused in the new coal episode.
PM-an accused? Because he had taken over the Coal Portfolio in the UPA-1 rule from Shibu Soren who got plucked in a murder case then (2006-2009). In 2009, Sri Prakash Jaiswal took charge of the coal production portfolio from PM.
It is the most serious monetary scandal in 2006-09, as per BJP leaders’ assessment, and they wanted an early enquiry into the issue, with Supreme Court supervision. 143 private companies were given 73 coal bloc units in 3 years, leading to mistakes that should be investigated by CAG as a special watch, the BJP demanded.
BJP asked PM to give his own explanation on coal and natural resources looting. The UPA Govt, led by Congress party in 2006 had amended the bill on, mining and mineral resources. Auction was introduced on “first come-first served” basis. PM was in charge of coal mines distribution. Instead of securing parliamentary approval first, he gave away mining contracts to privet parties, under his own whims and parties, BJP has now alleged.
The bill became an Act in 2010, in its amended form. But in the intervening 4 years 73 blocs of new coal mines of 17 billion MT and 51 lakh crores rupee value were distributed among 143 private companies, claimed NJP MP, Hamsraj Ahir, giving full details on coal resources.
He charged that coal mines were given at a low price of Rs.50 per MT, as per business circles. An amount of Rs.85,000 crores had changed hands, during 2006-10 Ahir pointed out.
Even before a bill becomes an Act, natural resources of coal in the country were looted by Congress rulers in the biggest mining robbery incident, BJP MP disclosed.