CBI affidavit in SC to decide Law Min Ashwani Kumar's fate?

While they may have publicly ruled out the resignation of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar  over his alleged involvement in the CBI amending its status report on the coal block allocation scandal, the investigating agency’s affidavit in the apex court might reportedly decide whether he will continue as the minister. After a Congress core group meeting held yesterday, ahead of the second half of the Budget session of Parliament, it was decided to keep in abeyance a decision on the Law Minister’s future until the CBI filed its affidavit in the Supreme Court, reported NDTV. So when the Parliament convenes, the Congress plans to back the Law Minister and refuse to give in to the Opposition’s demand for his resignation over the issue. [caption id=“attachment_717352” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] The Law Minister’s fate may hinge on the CBI’s affidavit before the Supreme Court. Reuters[/caption] However, after the CBI files its affidavit, the Congress will take a call on whether the minister must give up the post in order to allow Parliament to function, the Indian Express reported _,_ adding that the first week of the Budget session is likely to be a washout over the issue. The Opposition has also reportedly told the government that the Finance Bill could be a casualty in Parliament if their demand for Kumar’s resignation is not accepted. While the Law Minister has reportedly claimed that he merely assisted the CBI in correcting its grammar in the status report filed before the apex court on 8 March, a report had stated that senior officials, including the CBI’s director Ranjit Sinha, were allegedly summoned and told to ‘tone down’ the report. The CBI’s status report was also reportedly examined by senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office but it isn’t known if further changes were incorporated following the meeting.