Poll Analysis | Coalgate Scam Impasses Parliament
The pressure has intensified on Manmohan Singh-led government after Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) booked five companies for alleged criminal conspiracy to get coal blocks. As BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar told in a press conference, “These raids also show that there was wrongdoing in coal block allotments.”
Parliamentary function that has been in the standstill since Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) pointed at government that had unjustly given away coal worth Rs 1.86 lakh crore. The government that has been on the back foot over allegations of corruption in the allocation of coal mines is facing the heat of opposition.
Opposition parties have provided solution to the government that can resolve the issue and thus resume the monsoon session of parliament. The government is asked to cancel coal allocations and probe Coalgate scam. But the news reports show the denial of the government on cancelling coal allocation and urged opposition to let parliament proceedings to continue.
To know the views of our readers, we asked a question—“Should UPA cancel 142 coal allocation blocks to end the Parliamentary impasse?” Majority of voters, which constituted 65 per cent, have supported the demands of opposition parties to cancel the coal allocation of 142 private companies. These companies were allocated licenses during 2004 and 2009 and these names have been mentioned in the CAG’s report in the Coalgate scam. However, a small per cent of 5 are of the opinion that cancelling the licenses would affect the economy of the country.
Another 29 per cent of the people have voted that they want a judicial probe into the coal scam, which will give a vivid and transparent report relating to the role of the ruling government in the allocation of coal scam.
In the recent development, a committee with representatives from various ministries has begun reviewing the licenses of 58 companies which were sent show-cause notices in April, 2012 for unsatisfactory progress. Government has asked to submit the findings and reports to Coal Ministry by September 10, 2012.
However, the question still persists on what the government should do to end the paused monsoon parliamentary proceeding as it is affecting the business of the house.
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