Coal gate case: 'Will CBI dare to probe PMO or PM?'

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP, Tapan Sen, on Friday termed as a 'drama' the Central Vigilance Commission referring a complaint to the Central Bureau of Investigation on alleged irregularities in use of coal blocks by some private firms.

"Will the CBI inquire on the misdeeds of Prime Minister's Office or dare to question prime minister, on the issue," Sen asked at a press conference in Coimbatore.

He said since the alleged irregularities in allocation of coal blocks were made, when the coal ministry was with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh between 2004-2009, there should be a thorough probe in the entire issue, he said.

Sen, who is in Coimbatore to participate in the 4-day CITU National General Council meeting, beginning Saturday, said Centre was deceiving the people by claiming that international crude prices played a major role in deciding the prices of petrol.

Sen, a member of the standing committee on petroleum and natural gas, claimed it would cost only Rs 38 to Rs 40 for refining and supplying a litre petrol to the public, as against the present Rs.78 to Rs.80.

Government was earning 48 per cent tax on every one rupee of petrol sold and the claim of international fluctuation was a 'fraud' played on the gullible public, he alleged.

At the general council meeting, Sen and CITU President A K Padmanabhan said it would draw up a plan with regard to future of all the working class and also build up resistance, with other trade unions, against the UPA government whose policy was taking the country to 'bankruptcy, disaster,' leading to an economic situation like that of European Union.