Ready for any probe in coal allocations during my tenure: Deve Gowda

Janata Dal (S) supremo HD Deve Gowda on Tuesday said he is prepared to face any probe into decisions taken regarding coal blocks allotments during his tenure as Prime Minister at the head of the United Front government.

"I am ready to face any probe on all financial, economic and other decisions taken regarding coal blocks allotments during my tenure as Prime Minister between June 1, 1996 and April 11, 1997," Gowda told reporters here.

His remarks came in the backdrop of CBI deciding to expand its probe into the alleged irregularities in coal blocks allocation bringing under its scanner the decisions made since 1993 after a reference in this regard was received from CVC.

Last week, Coal Minister Shri Prakash Jaiswal had written to the Central Vigilance Commission seeking a CBI probe into all coal blocks allocations made since 1993 when government had started allocation to private players for captive use.

Gowda flayed the UPA government for introducing second phase of economic reforms, including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail, and others and said a parliamentary committee should be set up to review the impact of first round of reforms before the next set of measures.

"The committee members should travel across the country and visit at least two villages in every state. They should know what is happening there," he added.