Criticism of BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Mr Dharmendra Pradhan in former Union coal secretary Mr PC Parakh's memoir, 'Crusader or Conspirator?: Coalgate and Other Truths' has kicked off a controversy.
Mr Parakh, who retired as coal secretary in December 2005, wrote that he was disgusted with Mr Dharmendra's "insulting" behaviour and had offered to quit in August that year.
The retired bureaucrat wrote "After e-auction notification was issued in Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), Mr Dharmendra approached me for sale of coal to some non-core consumers at notified price. I informed him that no exception could be made once a notification was issued for sale of coal through e-auction. Mr Dharmendra was apparently not happy. e-auction had seriously reduced the flow of black money in the coal belt. At a consultative committee meet in early August, Dharmendra got nasty. He made extremely insulting and derogatory remarks against me."
Mr Parakh, against whom CBI has filed a case in coal block allocation scam, wrote that Dharmendra's manner was so unbearable that he offered to quit the following day.
Mr Parakh is quoted to have written in his letter to cabinet secretary Mr BK Chaturvedi, "It is becoming increasingly difficult for civil servants to work with self-respect, dignity and professional integrity. I find it impossible to function in such a vicious environment and would like to be immediately relieved of my responsibilities as secretary (coal)."
Mr Parakh said that he resumed duty after PM Dr Manmohan Singh advised him not to press for premature retirement.
The tainted bureaucrat mentioned that Mr Dharmendra wrote to the PM justifying his misconduct.He said that "On the issue of relief and rehabilitation policy, Mr Dharmendra deliberately misinterpreted my statement to justify his outburst."
Mr Dharmendra said that “As a people's representative, I tried to raise the issue of selling coal to local players running brick kilns and makers of flattened rice. They can't be part of the e-auction process.” Denying having used unparliamentary language, he said, “I don't need a certificate from Mr Parakh. I want people's voice to be heard at the highest level.”
Mr Parakh, who retired as coal secretary in December 2005, wrote that he was disgusted with Mr Dharmendra's "insulting" behaviour and had offered to quit in August that year.
The retired bureaucrat wrote "After e-auction notification was issued in Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), Mr Dharmendra approached me for sale of coal to some non-core consumers at notified price. I informed him that no exception could be made once a notification was issued for sale of coal through e-auction. Mr Dharmendra was apparently not happy. e-auction had seriously reduced the flow of black money in the coal belt. At a consultative committee meet in early August, Dharmendra got nasty. He made extremely insulting and derogatory remarks against me."
Mr Parakh, against whom CBI has filed a case in coal block allocation scam, wrote that Dharmendra's manner was so unbearable that he offered to quit the following day.
Mr Parakh is quoted to have written in his letter to cabinet secretary Mr BK Chaturvedi, "It is becoming increasingly difficult for civil servants to work with self-respect, dignity and professional integrity. I find it impossible to function in such a vicious environment and would like to be immediately relieved of my responsibilities as secretary (coal)."
Mr Parakh said that he resumed duty after PM Dr Manmohan Singh advised him not to press for premature retirement.
The tainted bureaucrat mentioned that Mr Dharmendra wrote to the PM justifying his misconduct.He said that "On the issue of relief and rehabilitation policy, Mr Dharmendra deliberately misinterpreted my statement to justify his outburst."
Mr Dharmendra said that “As a people's representative, I tried to raise the issue of selling coal to local players running brick kilns and makers of flattened rice. They can't be part of the e-auction process.” Denying having used unparliamentary language, he said, “I don't need a certificate from Mr Parakh. I want people's voice to be heard at the highest level.”
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