BJP must wait for CBI probe into coalgate: Reddy

Says labour law being violated in state, will cost dear to ruling party in VS polls

Raipur, September 12, 2012

The national president of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) Sanjeeva Reddy says that the BJP should wait for conclusion of CBI inquiry into coal scam before demanding probe through special investigation team (SIT). He further says that labour laws are being overtly flouted in Chhattisgarh and labourers are being exploited. 

“For this, the Raman Singh-government will have to face consequences in next Assembly polls,” he said while interacting with the media persons during his Raipur visit on Wednesday.

Reddy, who was in the capital city to attend the meeting of state INTUC, said that Centre allocated coal blocks on recommendations of state government and therefore it is wrong to demand resignation from Prime Minister Raman Singh.

He said even demanding resignation from CM Raman Singh is wrong as the matter is now being investigated by the central agency. “The BJP should wait and watch what the CBI comes with after its inquiry. If it would find the probe report incredible then it can demand for inquiry through SIT or any other agency,” Reddy said.

He assured the BJP that the Congress-led UPA government would not hesitate in putting tainted people in jail. “It has happened in the past. The Centre has put guilty ministers behind the bars earlier and if the probe report on coalgate will prove the PM guilty then he too would be jailed,” he said.

He emphasised on framing of pellucid policy on coal blocks allocation instead of making policy of allocation at higher or lower rates. Terming BJP’s demand from the PM to resign a political move, Reddy said the principal opposition at Centre was doing it considering upcoming assembly and general elections.

“The BJP should have rather given opportunity to the PM to clarify his stand on the coalgate,” he said.

He said the Centre allocated coal blocks to those firms which were recommended by the state BJP government – whether the company belonged to Naveen Jindal or anybody else, the responsibility was lies with the ruling party, not Union government.

Asked about the implementation of labour law in the state, he said – “There is no such law in the state as non-institutional labourers working in private sector are being exploited but there is no one heed their grievances.”

He warned that the BJP would face the consequence in upcoming Vidhan Sabha polls for not implementing labour law effectively. He demanded that the government should announce minimum wage Rs 10000 per month for labourers besides pension and other facilities.