PM should reveal names of MPs who pressurised for coal allocation: BJP

New Delhi: BJP on Saturday termed as “explosive” former Coal Secretary PC Parakh’s 2005 letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh alleging coal mafia in the ministry and asked the latter to reveal the names of MPs who reportedly pressurised government for making coal allocations to their favourites. “Coal Secretary PC Parakh’s letter to the Prime Minister in 2005 is very important and explosive. He said that the coal mafia is present within the government and that there is a lot of black mailing,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters. The party said Parakh has raised valid questions and these should be investigated. “The Prime Minister owes answers to the questions raised by Parakh. He has said many MPs were building tremendous pressure on him to make coal allocations. We want to know from the Prime Minister who were these MPs. He should name them and take the nation into confidence on the issue,” Javadekar said. [caption id=“attachment_1194811” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Manmohan Singh in this file photo. AFP[/caption] Insisting that it is the PM’s duty, BJP further demanded that Parakh’s letter be made public. Javadekar also ridiculed the PM’s offer to appear before CBI. “Earlier the Prime Minister had said he is ready to go to CBI. In the 2G spectrum case, he said he is ready to appear before the PAC. He never appeared before the PAC or the JPC. Past record shows that the PM makes these promises but does not make himself available for probe,” he said. The party hoped the Supreme Court will take note of the recent developments and also check the money trail, the bribe- givers and takers as well as where the money has gone. PTI