The much-awaited debate on the missing coal files, in which Prime Minister, Manmohan Singhwas supposed to intervene, did not take place in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, following protests by two Telugu Desam Party members.

The ruckus started when Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal began reading a statement on the issue.

TDP members Y.S. Chowdhary and C.M. Ramesh rushed to the Well, shouting slogans against bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The Prime Minister was in the House. It was conveyed to the Opposition that he would intervene in the debate based on Jaiswal’s statement.

Jaiswal said of the 43 files demanded by the Central Bureau of Investigations, 21 had already been handed over to it and 15 were available for handing over. “Efforts are being made to locate rest of the seven files. Out of 19 applications, three applications have already been made available to CBI,” he said, adding that the remaining 16 applications along with 157 by private companies were being searched.

AIADMK leader V. Maitreyan, who was the first speaker in the debate, pointed out that he was unable to make his speech amid disruptions by the TDP members. Deputy Chairman of the House P.J Kurien who was on the chair, wanted the House’s permission to invoke Rule 256 to suspend the two members.

However, the Opposition parties objected to this. An angry Kurien accused the Opposition of “double standards”. “You wanted discussion. The Prime Minister is here and now you are saying that I cannot take action against these members,” he said.

>jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in

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