Sunday Interview: P C Parakh’s book has sparked a political storm

First, what prompted you to write this book? Please elaborate.

It’s difficult to say when I thought of writing this book. To start with, I was requested by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission to prepare a discussion paper on the “Relationship between the political executive and the civil service”. This inspired me to write about my experiences in dealing with MLAs, MPs and ministers. In the meantime, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR against me for alleged corruption in the coal blocks allocations on the basis of half-truths and conjectures. The CBI, led by its director Ranjit Sinha, acted against me without proper understanding of facts and laws. This prompted me to present the facts and a true picture before the public.

The very purpose of this book is to present the problems and difficulties that civil servants face in the line of duty as mandated by the Constitution.

Why are you so critical of the CBI’s decision to register an FIR against you? A few other former coal secretaries have also been booked by the CBI in the coal scam.

I do not have information about the other FIRs. As far as the FIR in the Talabira-II block is concerned, in which I have been booked by the agency, I can say that the CBI is either incompetent or playing a deeper game. The CBI must understand the “Business Rules” of the Gover-nment of India. A secretary only makes a recommendation, it’s the minister who takes the decision. Why weren’t all the others involved in these decisions not charged with conspiracy and corruption?

Who all were involved in the decision-making process? Please elaborate.

I have already explained these details in my book. Why did the CBI not consider it necessary to examine relevant files of the PMO as part of its preliminary inquiry, before concluding that there was conspiracy and corruption? If the CBI had smelt conspiracy and corruption, why did it not name the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, in its FIR ?

You mean to say that you have been unfairly targetted by the CBI?

Of course. One must go through the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General on coal allocations to understand things properly. However, here I would like to clarify that at no time did the PMO make recommendations or exert pressure in favour of any party. Even in the case of Hindalco, where the CBI has registered an FIR, the request was only to re-examine the case on merit. I had made two alternative proposals. Finally, the Prime Minister appro-ved the proposal to jointly allocate Talabira-II to NLC (Neyveli Lignite Corporation) and Hindalco, in his capacity as minister of coal. The CBI concluded that there was conspiracy and corruption, because my revised proposal was at variance with the screening committee recommendation.

But the CBI claims that Talabira-II was reserved for allocation to public sector companies only. Is it true?

Where did the CBI get the information that this block was reserved for public sector companies only? If it was reserved for PSUs, how could Hindalco apply for it? Why then did this matter come to the screening committee? The screening committee had no role in the allocation of coal blocks reserved for the public sector. The CBI publicised this information merely to malign my reputation.

You have made statements that the coal scam could have been avoided if the “PM had asserted in pushing reforms”, including open bidding of coal blocks. What did you mean by this?

It is unfortunate that while the PM was keen on implementing open bidding, he was unable to counter vested interests within his government and party. The government’s inability to take the right decision at the right time resulted in Coalgate and subsequent CBI investigations monitored by the Supreme Court. All this has resulted in policy paralysis.

I must say that by continuing to head a government in which he had little political authority, his image has been seriously dented by 2G and Coalgate although he has had a spotless record of personal integrity. I remember when I met the PM on August 17, 2005, to express my concern at the insult and humiliation that MPs heap on civil servants and senior executives of PSUs, he expressed anguish but could not do anything. In fact, the PM told me that he faced similar problems every day.

In the book you have listed instances of what you call “rampant” blackmail of civil servants in public sector units by Central ministers and MPs. What kind of impression do you think this will leave on the younger generation of civil servants?

It is true that MPs make unreasonable de-mands, and then make false allegations to ha-rass honest officers. Money is openly deman-ded for appointment of directors and CEOs. I have seen MPs becoming blackmailers and extortionists. I have listed several instances of ministers and MPs blackmailing civil servants.

I myself faced a similar predicament and being the coal secretary I had to take certain decisions under political pressure. Despite attempts by former coal minister Shibu Soren and several MPs in the United Prog-ressive Alliance government to unseat me, I remained in that post till I retired in December 2005.

In my book, I have cited the incidents of former Bahujan Samaj Party MP Narendra Kumar Kushwaha sha-melessly demanding money from the then CMD of North Coal Fields Limited. Furkan Ansari, a former MP, wanted the CMD of Central Coal Fields Limited to hire about 100 Muslims of Jamtara area. In my book I have also mentioned the request of the then coal minister, Mamata Banerjee, to recruit 100 Trinamul Congress workers in Coal India in 2004. It appears that this is inevitable in a work of this nature. If my book can inspire the younger generation of civil servants to stand their ground in the face of political or other pressure, my purpose would have been served.

You have worked under several coal ministers. Whom do you consider to be the best?

Of course, my stint in the coal ministry during Mamata Banerjee’s tenure was the best.
Ms Banerjee had commendable simplicity and there is no doubt about her personal integrity. However, she was not immune to misuse of her office for her party’s interest.

And who was the worst?

No comments.

Would you agree that the picture painted by you about the existing political set-up will have an adverse impact on the masses?

Not at all. India needs comprehensive political, electoral, administrative and judicial reforms.

The government’s ability to control corruption has been seriously compromised. It is not possible to curb corruption in India as long as the electoral and political system of the country depend on illicit funds. There is strong anger against the political system in the country.