Ministers reversed PM’s coal orders, says P.C. Parakh

New Delhi:  Various Coal ministers including Shibu Soren and Dasari Narayana Rao besides MPs cutting across the political class scuttled reforms in the Coal ministry that could have prevented the coal scam despite full support of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in pushing reforms, former Coal Secretary P.C. Parakh said on Monday.

 

“These two ministers resolutely opposed my proposal to put coal blocks to open bidding. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister was not able to control his ministers in the proposal that I made in 2004...I saw in the ministry how Chief Executives and Directors of PSEs are appointed,” he told reporters. 

 

“Money is openly asked for appointment of directors and CEOs. I saw MPs becoming blackmailers and extortionists. They blackmailed officers, they blackmailed CEOs of government companies. I saw how ministers have reversed the decision of the Prime Minister, who had agreed to putting coal blocks in Internet-based auctions,” he said after release of his book “Crusader or Conspirator? Coalgate and other Truths.” 

 

“We have created a situation were it is difficult for civil servants to work with honesty and dignity,” he said. Parakh, 68, who retired from the service in December 2005, said whatever forward movement was achieved by him during his stint as Coal Secretary was only when the Prime Minister was incharge of the ministry. “When I was in Coal ministry, the Prime Minister gave me full support. Whatever changes had come in the Coal ministry it is because of Prime Minister. He also supported reforms in the Coal ministry. We were able to get a lot of work done because of proactive role of Manmohan Singh,” he told reporters.

 

The book cited alleged cases of former BSP MP Narendra Kumar Kushwaha “shamelessly” demanding money from the then CMD of North Coal Fields Ltd.
 

Asked whether the multicrore rupees coalgate could have been prevented if the reforms had been pushed through, Parakh said, “Yes, if the Prime Minister had used his authority, it (scam) could have (been avoided).”