CAG refuses to join public debate on coalgate

An official carries the copies of CAG report during Parliament's monsoon session in New Delhi. An official statement from the CAG office today said it would clarify on the coal blocks allocation report at the appropriate forum when required. File photo

Refusing to join the public debate over its findings on the Centre’s coal block allocation during 2004-08, Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) Vinod Rai on Tuesday said he would clarify his position at an appropriate forum.

The CAG report has come under attack from the Prime Minister, the Congress party and critics. The watchdog was criticised for coming out with ‘presumptive figures when no loss had taken place.’

“Being a Constitutional authority, the CAG feels that it would be improper on his part to join a public debate on this issue. It is hereby stated that the organisation of CAG would clarify on the report at the appropriate forum, when required,” an official statement said.

The statement said the CAG office had been getting repeated calls from the media for reactions.

On Monday, Dr. Singh questioned the findings, describing them as disputable and flawed. “The policy of allocation of coal blocks to private parties, which the CAG has criticised, was not a new policy introduced by the UPA. The policy has existed since 1993 and previous governments also allocated coal blocks in precisely the manner that the CAG has now criticised,” he had stated.