Coal Gate Scam: Govt. downplays storm over ASG Raval's letter to AG Vahanvati

New Delhi, April 30 (ANI): The Government on Tuesday sought to downplay the political storm created by Additional Solicitor General Harin Raval's letter accusing Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati of trying to interfere in Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI's) probe report on coal bloack allocation scam.

Talking to reporters outside Parliament House, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said there could have been "differences", which is "natural" and the government has nothing to "cover".

"It is natural, it is normal and just leave it there. We will see more of it. I am sure the both will clarify each other," Nath said when asked about the controversy.

Raval's letter came as controversy raged over whether the government tried to influence CBI probe into the coal scam.

"Whatever the truth is will come out in probe. No need to comment on an ongoing investigation. Government is not in any difficulty. Because we don't have to cover anything," he said.

In his letter to Vahanvati, Raval had reportedly said he had been made a "scapegoat" in the matter.

Raval is said to have accused the latter of trying to interfere in CBI's probe report.

The accusation by Raval came before the Supreme Court was to hear on record CBI Director Ranjit Sinha's affidavit and the agency's status report on the coal blocks allocation probe that was shared with Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and Joint Secretary-level officials of the Prime Minister's Office(PMO) and Coal ministry.

Later, the apex court pulled up the government about interfering with the independent functioning of the CBI on probes being attended by it. It called on the government to immediately restore the independence of the CBI.

This order has resulted in the opposition freshly targetting the government over the coal block allocation issue, and forcing the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh to have meetings with Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi's Political Secreatry Ahmed Patel and Union Law and Justice Minister Ashwani Kumar in Parliament.

It has also resulted in forcing the Congress Party to call a meeting of its Core Group to discuss the issue in the presence of Gandhi. (ANI)