The Centre on Thursday tried to turn the coal heat on the Orissa government by questioning chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s intention in recommending a particular coal block to a private company.
Union minister of state in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) V. Narayanasamy, while addressing a press conference here, said the Orissa chief minister in 2002 had recommended allocation of coal block in favour of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) by cancelling prior allotment of the block to another company.
“What was the personal interest of the chief minister in that? When hundreds and thousands of people are there in the line for coal blocks, why only one company you are choosing? There is a motive behind it and it has to be investigated into,” Mr Narayanasamy told reporters here, adding that it is for the CBI to look into the matter.
Mr Patnaik, in an apparent bid to steer clear of the controversy, immediately reacted to the Union minister’s remark.
“The coal block in question had earlier been given to a private power plant in Tamil Nadu which had exceeded the dateline given to it. In case of JSPL, we recommended their case for their Orissa project,” the chief minister clarified.
Stating that coal was a subject on which the Central government had “complete authority,” the chief minister said in a number of cases private companies who do not benefit the state have been given coal blocks in Orissa.
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BJP to launch stir from Sept. 17
AGE CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, Sept. 13
Intensifying its attack against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress-led UPA government over “Coalgate” scam, the BJP will launch a nationwide campaign from September 17. BJP core group, which met at party chief Nitin Gadkari’s residence on Thursday evening, decided that the main focus of this agitation will be to demand PM’s resignation over controversial coal blocks allocation and cancellation of the blocks besides an impartial probe by a Supreme Court-monitored SIT.
“From September 17 to 24, we will hold the campaign across the country demanding the Prime Minister’s resignation. Manmohan Singh is the first and the main accused in the coal scam. He should resign,” BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar said after the meeting.
BJP leaders will lead party workers in a march to the respective Raj Bhavans in various state capitals as part of the agitation called “Raj Bhavan Chalo”. They will submit a memorandum to the governor of the state on their demands.
Party workers at the district level will carry out similar marches to the district collector’s office. The main Opposition had forced a washout of virtually the whole monsoon session of Parliament on the issue.