Today I had finished reading the book CRUSADER OR CONSPIRATOR written by PC Parakh IAS (Rtd). Mr Parakh belongs to the then AP cadre and an old acquaintance of my father late sri Satyanarayan Rao of Ramgundam. I used send greetings on my father's behalf invariably twice in a year, on the eve Diwali and New Year's Day. At the time of writing this book, he got superanuated 8 years before, as secretary to Ministry of Coal.
All of us are well aware of Coalgate scam occurred in the year 2012 and this book is about Coal Blocks allocation. In 2012 the controversy over allotment of Coal Blocks to private companies rocked the country. The CAG had observed that govt had picked favorites while avoiding open and competitive bidding and the CAG concluded that the Govt lost 1.86 lakh crores in the process while the amount went into pockets of private companies. It had been the biggest scam in history of Govt of India.
India's premier Investigating Agency CBI filed an FIR against the Secretary of Coal Ministry Mr PC Parakh.( the author) and top Industrialist Mr Kumaramangalam Birla. The FIR outraged the Civil Services and the corporate bodies. Mr Parakh having earned fine reputation for his ability and integrity as civil servant perhaps wanted to clear the dust and hence the book.
The book isn't however just about coal scam .It is also about working with some top politicians, starting with CMs of AP. It also deals with life in the Coal Ministry, Mamta Benerjee, Shibu Soren and Manmohan Singh who was PM. It is about the lessons he learnt and an account that startles with never before revealed information.
I may kindly be permitted to eloberate one or two issues for better appreciation of the issue as I have many FB friends who are top advocates, Administrators, judges, sr officers from NTPC and politicians Etc.
In fact the book throws light on many aspects of coal scam,which will be of intetest to the general public. After all it is mineral, pertains to public, its distribution is to be done in a fair manner, consistent with public interest. As per him he had proposed the auction method, which indeed was approved by the PM ( in charge of Coal also). However the interests of politicians involved managed to subvert this sound decision, delay its implementation, for a decade in the meantime, it was looted. Now the matter is in the highest court.
The fact of the matter is PM was mute ineffective spectator. Note that same man was able to take firm stand on nuclear deal & FDI in retail issue but in this he was a prisoner of circumstances.
As per Mr Parakh, there is no case for investigation into allocations made from 1993 to 2003. The CAG had not made adverse observations on these allocations nor was there any complaint. He says no meaningful investigation can be made in cases that were decided decade earlier. Again I want to brief you his honest observations on our great CBI.
To Mr Parakh, the entire approach of CBI, in investigating coal scam is faulty. It is not equipped to the truth. it's expertise lies on fixing and unfixing people. It is totally staffed with police officers who have little or no exposure to policy formulation and its imp!ementation. The entire process of investigation is in hands of inspector level officials, who have little understanding of decision making process in the Govt.
I would therefore personally feel no useful purpose would be served, in the instant case and the entire exercise would be futile if we go by the then secretary Mr. Parakh.
