Good that PM Manmohan Singh explained about block allocation to Hindalco: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP today welcomed the PMO's explanation that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had approved the coal block to industrialist Kumarmangalam Birla's Hindalco and asked him to clear the air on other controversial allocations done when he held the coal portfolio.

"It is good that the Prime Minister has explained the story behind the coal block allocation to Hindalco though after much furore in the country over booking industrialists and bureaucrats," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told PTI.

The Prime Minister's Office has said that Singh had approved the coal block allocation to Hindalco and that there was no wrongdoing in it.

Civil society, bureaucrats and industrialists have openly objected to the CBI filing an FIR against Birla and then Coal Secretary P C Parakh.

The latter is known as a whistleblower in the case. However, BJP maintained that Singh should come clear on the other block allocations done between 2006-09 when he had the charge of the coal ministry.

"Can he explain all the other coal allocations? Is it not true that many allocations were done to companies which are neither operators nor users of captive coal? Is it not true that there are many companies which sold their stakes at a whopping profit after getting the licence?" Javadekar asked.

The main Opposition further sought to know whether it is not true that many irregularities were brought to the attention of the Prime Minister even before the CAG report was prepared.

"Will the Prime Minister kindly explain all these other allocations?" Javadekar said.

Earlier, speaking in Baramath in Maharashtra, he raised the same issue and asked, "Can the nation now expect that he (PM) will explain all the allocations mentioned in all the 14 FIRs lodged till today?"