Cong demands open debate with CM on Pushp Steel issue

     Raipur, May 04, 2013: Main opposition Congress today demanded an open debate with the Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh on the controversial Pushp Steel matter.

     “I challenge the Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh for an open debate on the issue of Pushp Steel matter,” former Deputy Assembly Opposition leader and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said in a statement here.

     “Both the Chief Minister Singh and the then Principal Secretary has committed serious irregularities in the Pushp Steel matter,” Baghel alleged.

     Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recently started probing the Pushp Steel and the real face of the Chief Minister and his government would be exposed if the state government would allow investigation of the role it played in connection with the Pushp Steel matter, he claimed.

     On April 27, 2013 the state BJP government had clarified it had not recommended allotment of coal block of Pushp Steel Limited after CBI raided various premises of the controversial company that day in connection with the alleged irregularities in coal block allotment to it.

     The state government had not made any recommendation for allotment of coal blocks to Pushp Steel, the state government had said here.

     CBI on April 27, last had carried out search operation in 11 locations of the country, including at Raipur, Delhi and Narwana in Haryana after registering a fresh case against the Pushp Steel in connection with alleged misrepresentation of facts while applying for coal blocks.

     It was claimed that the company got mining lease on the basis of recommendation from the Chhattisgarh Government despite having no experience and lacking enough capital required for starting mining operations.