The “missing” syndrome

Shiban  Khaibri
Many important files pertaining to Adarsh Housing scam have gone missing. Many sensitive files pertaining to coal allocation are missing. The “link” of Rupee with the Dollar is menacingly missing. The equation of the Aam Aadmi’s pocket with the market prices is missing. Much awaited FDI to bail out our economic condition is missing. Much promised and hyped “turnaround” of the economy in 100 days is missing. The ability of the UPA2 to take appropriate and timely policy decisions is missing. The urgency to address pressing problems of the people is missing. The high hope of the common Indians from the Government to salvage them is missing. Transparency is missing, accountability is missing and above all trust is fast missing. Are we, therefore, up to a missing syndrome all around in political and administrative spheres? Are the requisite qualities of the political leadership to steer the country ably and efficiently missing?
How can the CBI go ahead with its investigations in the coal scam in the absence of some key and sensitive files reported to have “gone” missing? The coal ministry has made a very serious revelation that as many as 14 very important files have been lost for good. The matter assumes more importance as the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was in charge of the coal ministry during the contentious period of allocations of coal blocks made. Earlier, the report of the CBI slated exclusively to be submitted to the highest court of the land in respect of the scam was reportedly “seen” by the Law Ministry to “correct” its grammar. The observers saw in it an  attempt to have the uncomfortable lines “reviewed” that were landing direct at the PM’s office. The question is as to how can the $30 billion coal scam files or papers go missing with impunity from the office of the ministry concerned when they are supposed to travel from one table to the other, under a proper procedure of noting and acknowledgements in prescribed system from those who needed to peruse them or take necessary action? Even in ordinary course in state or central offices and departments with the degree of the profiles unmatched with the union ministry of coal, the system of movement of files is foolproof, transparent, with parallel safeguards and carrying the tag of accountability. Where does the accountability exist in the sensational missing of files from the union coal ministry and instead of putting in his papers from the ministry to facilitate a time bound thorough probe, the statement of the Coal Minister Shriprakash Jaiswal in the Parliament was far from satisfactory and in the least, convincing. Some clarifications seem untenable that the files were being kept in boxes in horizontal positions and not vertical, are not traceable numbering over 250, of which 14 are very crucial. Strange and mysterious it may sound, that the papers in respect of the report of CIL’s financial  experts on the screening committee’s meeting over block allocations made in 2007 under the overall charge of the Prime Minister are missing. Instead of providing any suitable information to the nation, the beating about the bush  laced with incohesion from the coal minister and other leaders from the ruling party in the matter is saddening.
It is generally believed that the coal scam is bigger in dimension than the much talked about 2G scam and not only has the government been caught on the attempts to misrepresent facts but also seen to play the blame game by resorting to parroting of some files misplaced and missing in respect of the NDA period.  The simple principle of handing over – taking over procedure is not apparently implemented and now cover is vainly sought under “some files during NDA also lost”. When was this shocking phenomenon found and has any criminal case, an FIR lodged with the Police authorities against those who were in charge of those super sensitive files which have gone missing? To quote the words of the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, “the files are made to disappear, the evidence has been destroyed in a case probed by the CBI and monitored by the Honb’le Supreme court which is a crime”. How come those files in particular, which would have helped in spilling the beans, go missing like  Tata Sesol,  Kamal Sponge Steel, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd,  GVK Power,  Vikas Metal,  Jharkhand Ispat etc.? There are files which have the applications for coal blocks with noting and approval by the competent authorities in the ministry also reportedly gone missing. The stereo brand “assurances of probing the matter” and leaving no stone unturned in tracing the documents and the like cannot assuage the feelings of the people who see in it every thing fishy and all manipulated only to frustrate or incapacitate the inquiry by the CBI. The question is loud and clear as to what is there to hide and who is being sought to be provided a safe passage? Are such attempts made under a well thought of plan with intent to bail out the PM, bail out the Congress and save its leaders involved in the scam? Coal Minister’s “treatment” of the missing malaise by having it inquired into by a committee headed by an Additional Secretary of the ministry is unlikely to bear fruits and is aimed at delaying, deferring and  denying the probe in how the scam took place and who facilitated it and on what considerations.
The nation is eagerly awaiting a full clarification and a statement of facts from the Prime Minister who held the coal portfolio from 2006 to 2009. It is ironical to see that the government seems to be more interested in pushing through the flagship food security bill in the Parliament than resolving the “missing” tangle and is perhaps ruing that much in it could not be done on the birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister, Late Rajiv Gandhi. Perhaps an issue involving a direct loss to the state exchequer to the tune of Rs.186 lac crore as calculated by the Comptroller and Auditor General appears to the UPA2 as less important than the Food Security Bill which could do it in 2014 exactly what MGNREGA proved for it in 2004 and even in 2009. Again the question is that why the files were not computerized in the coal ministry in an era of total computerization in almost all other offices and departments? The coal policy was to be changed in 2011-12 but for which of the considerations, it was not changed? Does the “missing” syndrome  lend  credence to the fact that block allocations were done in an arbitrary fashion and thus the files have gone  missing or  is it simply the highest level of incompetence coupled with the incessant maneuverings to hide and find escape routes by the government? In any case, it is nothing but a joke on the nation, a fraud on the nation, if not breaking the trust of the nation. The law must hold supreme.

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