The Prime Minister has assured Parliament that the government is making all efforts to trace the missing files related to the on-going investigations into the coal block allocations. Dr Manmohan Singh said it is premature to say that the files, which are not being traced, are missing.
Intervening during clarifications sought by members in the Rajya Sabha today on the Coal Minister's statement, Dr Singh said the government has nothing to hide in the matter and asked the opposition not to draw hasty conclusions and let the House function smoothly. Dr Singh said a majority of over one lakh 50 thousand documents have been handed over to CBI. He said it clearly shows the government's intention to facilitate the investigation process.
The Prime Minister said the government has extended the fullest cooperation to the Comptroller and Auditor General in its performance audit and later to the CBI in its investigation. Dr Singh said if the records are indeed found missing, the government will carry out a thorough investigation and ensure that the guilty are brought to book.
He said the coal block allocation issue is sub judice and the apex court is looking into all aspects. Dr Singh said the CBI investigation is being monitored by the Supreme Court. The court, in its latest order, has directed the CBI to prepare a comprehensive list of the missing documents and the government will hand over the available papers to the investigating agency within two weeks.
The Prime Minister said if the government is unable to trace some of these papers within the time frame given by the Supreme Court, it will file a report with the CBI for appropriate enquiry as directed by the apex court. Later,Dr Singh made a similar statement in the Lok Sabha.
Earlier, raising the issue, opposition leaders wanted to know what steps the government has taken so far on the missing files. They also asked why no FIR has been filed till now. Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley charged the government with misleading the House by saying that the missing coal files relate to the period prior to 2004.
Sitaram Yechury of the CPIM, Naresh Agrawal of the Samajwadi Party, Dr V Maitreyan of the AIADMK , Derek O'brien of the Trinamool Congress and Mayawati of the BSP also sought clarifications on the issue.
