Letters: Dark day for the Congress

This refers to the editorial "Speed is key" (March 13). Setting aside the closure report presented to it, a special Central Bureau of Investigation court sending summons to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the coal block allocation scam raises hope. It vindicates the long-held allegation against Singh. It also validates former Coal Secretary P C Parakh's view that Singh is as culpable since he held the portfolio at that time and was the one who gave the final nod to coal block allocations.

The summon points to the premise of the Constitution that everybody is equal before law. Coming close on the heels of its worst debacle in the general and Assembly elections, which cost the Congress its status as the national Opposition party, it is a dark day for the Grand Old Party and a sad day for a man who accidentally joined politics and was assigned the top post thanks to his integrity and clean public persona. Singh might not have imagined that he was destined to be summoned to appear before the court of law for a crime about which he had no idea. Party President Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders rallying behind Singh and extending their so-called moral support may not help in what is technically a legal issue.

R Prabhu Raj, Chennai

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