The UPA Government and the Congress have made it clear that there is no move to cancel the licences for coal blocks.
Reacting to the Opposition’s demand that the licences be cancelled immediately, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said such a step would adversely affect power generation in the country.
Sibal was addressing a press conference at the Congress office here on Wednesday.
He claimed that the guidelines, prepared by the United Progressive Alliance Government in 2006 for issuing licences, were more exhaustive than that of the National Democratic Alliance Government.
Sibal said cancellation of coal block licences would lead to wastage of crores of rupees.
“Many banks are involved in the decision, and it will affect the power sector badly,” he added. He accused the BJP of making arguments with an eye on the 2014 general elections. “They are not bothered about the national interest,” he added.
He reiterated the Government’s argument that according to the nationalisation policy, coal could be sold. Coal from the blocks allotted was never sold and nobody would have benefited from the allocation, he added.
The Minister urged the BJP to stop disrupting the proceedings of the House.
BJP adamant
The BJP, however, said they would continue to demand the Prime Minister’s resignation. Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said the UPA had manipulated the screening committee to select the licensees.
He alleged that while the Committee had 10 representatives from the Central Government, only one person was allowed to represent the State concerned.
“It appears that these bunglings were pre-planned and the motive was to make profits, not as a nation but as a party,” he added.
He reiterated his party’s stand that all 142 coal block allocations should be cancelled immediately.