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Ex Coal Secretary Parakh rages against the CBI, stands by Manmohan

With spotlight back on former coal secretary PC Parakh and former prime minister Manmohan Singh as accused in coal block allocation case, Parakh's confessional book provocatively titled, Crusader or Conspirator: Coalgate And Other Truths is a single most important source to give the `other' perspective. Parakh, in his book, says that there was no pressure from either the prime minister (Singh) or the prime minister's office regarding allocation of coal block to Hindalco.

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With spotlight back on former coal secretary PC Parakh and former prime minister Manmohan Singh as accused in coal block allocation case, Parakh's confessional book provocatively titled, Crusader or Conspirator: Coalgate And Other Truths is a single most important source to give the `other' perspective. Parakh, in his book, says that there was no pressure from either the prime minister (Singh) or the prime minister's office regarding allocation of coal block to Hindalco.

He writes: "However, it must be said to the credit of the prime minister that at no time did the PMO make recommendations or exert pressure in favour of any party. Even in the case of Hindalco, where the CBI has decided to register an FIR, the request was only to re-examine the case on merit." Contrary to public perception that Parakh found Singh to be complicit, he writes in the book, "It is unfortunate that while the prime minister was keen on implementing open bidding, he was unable to counter vested interests within his government and party."

Interestingly, Parakh almost rages against the CBI and its investigation methods. In Chapter 20, titled, Supreme Court, CBI and Coalgate: Looking in Wrong Place" he observes: "The CBI is not equipped to find the truth. Its expertise lies in fixing and unfixing people. Unfortunately, it is doing so even in the Coalgate investigation although the Supreme Court is monitoring it. The CBI is almost totally staffed with police officers who have little or no exposure to policy formulation."

About the Talabira II block, Parakh explains that Hindalco and Neyveli Lignite Corporation were the contenders for it. He says that Hindalco was the "prior applicant" and the Government of Odisha supported its case. Another reason for allocating Talabira II, according to Parakh, is that it is meant for captive mining, and this was specifically meant to attract "private investment in coal mining."

Parakh says that Kumara Mangalam Birla had made a representation to the prime minister. Odisha chief minister Naveen Ptnaik also wrote to the prime minister. Manmohan Singh took the final decision to "jointly allocate Talabira II to NLC and Hiandalco, in his capacity as Minister of Coal. It was also decided to create a joint venture with all three companies holding equity in proportion to their share of coal."

 

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