Govt not cooperating with CBI in coal scam: BJP

BJP today accused the government of not cooperating with the CBI in the coal scam by dilly- dallying on sharing relevant files with the probe agency and demanded that the computers in the PMO, which store such information, should be seized for "data mining".
"The Congress government stands thoroughly exposed for its non-cooperation in the probe. CBI is still struggling to get hold of the crucial documents and files required from the coal ministry to take the investigation forward," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.
He alleged the government has been giving excuses that the files are missing, have lost or are untraceable, while files of the Maharashtra government have been "destroyed" in the infamous fire in the Mantralaya building.

"The actual way forward for the CBI was to seize the related computers and dig out the data from there. BJP expects that the Supreme Court will order for such data mining," Javadekar said.
The Supreme Court rapping the government on the coal scam is seen by BJP as a vindication of the opposition's charge that UPA is indulging in a massive cover-up of the probe. The party said due to this the government is putting hurdles in the probe being monitored by the apex court.
The main opposition alleged there is an "obnoxious attempt" to protect the Prime Minister, who held the coal portfolio during the period when anomalies in block allocations were allegedly done.

"BJP demands that in view of what has been exposed till today, the PM must own responsibility and resign forthwith and the coal block allocations should be cancelled," Javadekar said.
The apex court had yesterday said the CBI does not require sanctions for probe and prosecution as the power of superintendence lies with the CVC which had ordered the probe in the coal scam.