Unwarranted remarks should be avoided: govt on Parakh comments

With PM Manmohan Singh facing fresh attack in coal block allocations, the government on Wednesday appeared to hit out at former coal secretary PC Parakh for his comments against him as it sought to take refuge in the fact that the matter is sub-judice.

With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh facing fresh attack in coal block allocations, the government on Wednesday appeared to hit out at former coal secretary PC Parakh for his comments against him as it sought to take refuge in the fact that the matter is sub-judice.

HT Image

Responding to remarks by Parakh that the Prime Minister must be counted as a "conspirator" if there was a scam in the coal block allocations, information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said "unwarranted and uncalled for" comments should be avoided on the matter.

He said the government has already provided all documents to the CBI and if anybody has to say anything, it should be at an appropriate forum and at an appropriate time.

The minister also attacked BJP for targeting the Prime Minister, saying it was behaving in an irresponsible manner.

The Prime Minister's Office refused to react and merely referred to the September 3 statement by Singh in Parliament where he had said the government has nothing to hide and that it was providing the fullest cooperation to the CBI which is probing the matter.

"Our attention has been drawn to some reports which have appeared in the sections of press today. Most respectfully, I would like to submit that the entire matter is under investigation and the investigation that is being monitored by the Supreme Court of India directly.

"So, therefore, in a sub-judice matter where investigations are in progress, it is inappropriate for people to be commenting in a manner in which they have done," Tewari told reporters.

He was responding when asked to react to comments made by former coal secretary PC Parakh, who has been booked by CBI in the coal scam, that the Prime Minister was the final decision maker and must be counted as a "conspirator". This prompted BJP to demand Singh's resignation.

The government has provided all documents to the investigators and, therefore, this "unnecessary speculation" is something which needs to be avoided, Tewari added.