The Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal has said the Opposition is only interested in politics. But it should be balanced. The working of Parliament should not be hampered.  

“They have understood that they cannot stand up for a good debate. The Opposition fears that a debate would bring the truth to the limelight. Controversies hamper the growth of the country. Slow growth is being focused upon as an election agenda by the Opposition," he said.

When all States were party to the screening committee, the Prime Minister alone cannot be sidelined, he said.

The Coal Ministry is working on a policy for use of surplus coal. It should be ready in two-three months. The CBI is already looking into any discrepancies in the screening committee, he added.    

The PM's job was to ensure growth that resulted in more than 8 per cent growth. This is because of decisions taken by the Prime Minister at that time. The UPA Government floated the idea of bidding process to bring in more transparency. But States such as Rajasthan, Orissa and Jharkhand, among others, opposed it saying industrialisation would suffer.  

"We also told States that they can take the revenues emerging from coal block bidding. Companies that have not mined their blocks are under review and these mines would be deallocated. We do not agree with CAG numbers. The PAC will look into it," he added .

 

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