CPI(M) attacks Anand Sharma for his remarks on coal scam

CPI(M) today attacked Commerce Minister Anand Sharma for his statements on CBI naming a leading industrialist in the coal scam, saying it was a "blatant" attempt to influence the case.

"It is shocking that a Union Minister, Anand Sharma, has come out in defence of a big industrialist claiming he is innocent in the case. This is nothing but a blatant effort to influence the case and intimidate the CBI," the party Politburo said in a statement here.

It said Sharma's stand was "also to justify the covert policy of privatising the coal industry which is the root cause for the corruption involved".

Demanding that CBI should "proceed in the entire investigation and pursue the guilty without fear or favour", CPI(M) also sought "a thorough investigation in this case of allocating natural resources illegally to ensure windfall profits to certain companies".

"Since this involved the period when the Prime Minister was incharge of the Ministry of Coal, this aspect also needs investigation," the party said.

CBI has lodged an FIR against industrialist and Chairman of Hindalco, Kumar Mangalam Birla, and a former Coal Secretary as part of its ongoing probe in the coal blocks allocation case.