With three CAG reports giving fresh ammunition to the opposition to target the government, Congress on Saturday accused the auditor of sensationalising its reports and crossing the line.
The party spoke of “long-term implications” if any Constitutional institution does not maintain the “fine balance and decides to transgress”.
Seeking to trash the CAG report on coal blocs allocation, which has led to BJP demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party spokesman Manish Tewari said the Supreme Court had “not endorsed” the presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore pointed out by CAG in 2G spectrum allocation issue.
“The Supreme Court, while cancelling the 2G licences, did not make any observation with regard to the presumptive loss. If the apex court would have been convinced of averments of CAG, they would have endorsed the presumptive loss”, he said.
“CAG will be well served by keeping this precedent in mind and not keep adding zeros, which unnecessarily sensationalises and vitiates the environment”, he said.
Mr. Tewari’s remarks came in response to a host of questions, including whether CAG was crossing the ‘Lakshman Rekha’ and on BJP demand for the resignation of the Prime Minister in the wake of CAG report on the coal blocs allocation.
Government has already rubbished CAG’s findings that private firms had got “undue benefits” to the tune of Rs 3.06 lakh crore in coal, aviation and power sectors, claiming the calculations were “misleading” and “faulty” and accused the auditor of not following its mandate.
“The CAG has the habit of adding zeros and he should desist from it,” Mr. Tewari said adding the auditor should draw appropriate lessons from the Supreme Court “failing” to endorse the presumptive loss on the 2G allocation.
Seeking to take the wind out of the CAG charge, Mr. Tewari said that of the 57 coal blocks allocated, mining has not yet started in 56 of them.
If this is the situation, then who has got the benefit and who has suffered loss, he said.
Besides, he said even if it is assumed that there has been a benefit of Rs 1.86 lakh crore, it is spread over a period of 30 years and “cannot be considered as the net present value“.
Asked whether opposition parties were exploiting the situation caused by CAG reports and has landed the government in a problematic situation, Mr. Tewari said only PAC can evaluate the findings of the audit body.
Alleging BJP was having double standards on the issue, he said when CAG reports come in BJP-ruled Gujarat, Chhattishgarh and Madhya Pradesh, the Chief Ministers there do not even place them on the table of the assembly.
Keywords: Coal block allocation, CAG report, Coalgate, coal scam, UPA government, Manmohan Singh, Coal Ministry, Congress
Justice should be one for all - irrespective of their position in the society so why are politician exception to this.
Manish Tiwari is the same person who accused Anna Hazare as "Bagoda" and Corrupt "Hazare Babu ...Tum Upar say nichey tak Braust ho..." When cornered the UPA safely blames it on the individual commentrators & label their statement as personal comments and not parties response.
Enough is Enough - Let the Law take its course or people will very soon lose faith in the entire Judiciary system as well.
Unwarranted comments/remarks are made against CAG.If the govt differs
with the CAG,it can state its view points but can not pass snide remarks
against the constitutional authority.President should step in before the
issue turns unseemly.President should suitably advise the govt not to
denigrate the CAG who is ably performing his duties.
The CAG's report is based on sound logical scientific analysis and the
only way to counter it is to do the same-using logical facts rather
than threats.
It would better serve the ruling party to not to be disrespectful
towards Constitutional institutions. The general public holds the CAG,
the ECI in great esteem and any effort to salvage the Congress Party's
public image by resorting to such a muck smearing campaign will only
back fire.
CAG is not an elected group, it comprises of auditors trained by the
Indian govt. they will have the basis for computation of loss. so lets
talk about how to get back the revenue to treasury.
CAG is satuatory body and it has the role to do, attacking CAG and saying the crossing of limits is just annoying statment from the higher posted minster. If there is no evidence of it, how CAG can defend it's report. 1.86L crores could have been used for poor man life upliftment instead of corporates and political bearers.
The problem with CAG reports is that most people implicitly believe
that the "loss" estimated by CAG is actually money taken out of the
exchequer, while it is merely revenue foregone. Revenue generation is
not an important guiding light for public administration. Achievement
of social and development goals guides public policy. CAG audits are
only a tool to see the financial indications, not a report of how much
loss the current Government action in question has made. It is in fact
true that while allies of Congress in the UPA are scam-tainted and
corrupt, these reports are not investigations into scams, but only
constitutional tools to provide a sense of balance. This side ought
not to be given undue prominence, without also highlighting the
societal goals met by foregoing said revenue.
CAGs report should be debated urgently in Parliament. If the loss is as
ascertained by the CAG the Govt and the opposition parties should think
over how to avoid these huge losses atleast in future. Poor people in
the country are striving hard and living a hand to mouth existence.
Politicians should be true to the people.
No wonder that congress leaders have the audacity to question the
validity of findings of constitutional bodies like CAG ,EC and no wonder
some of its leaders may question the Hon.supreme court and CBI
etc tomorrow when their miss deeds are made public. Most of the
politicians do not care for the rule book and constitution of India.
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