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The Congress party on Saturday reiterated Finance Minister P. Chidambaram’s observation that the alleged loss of Rs. 1.86 lakh crore to the national exchequer is only “presumptive,” while urging the Opposition to resume parliamentary proceedings. Speaking to mediapersons here, Congress leader Sandeep Dixit said he agreed with Chidambaram’s Friday comment, where the Finance Minister had said that since there was no production from the mines, the loss has been only “presumptive.” “I would differ from Arun Jaitley’s view that since the mines have been handed over to private players, the issue of presumptive loss holds ground,” Dixit said. “The CAG has not said anywhere that the loss has been of Rs. 1.86 lakh crore. The report says that by giving mines to private bidders, over a period of 30-35 yrs, they would have earned profits to the tune if the said figure, and if competitive bidding would have been done, a part of it could have gone to government as taxes,” he added. Commenting on Arun Jaitley’s comment that the BJP is “misleading” the people, he invited the “obstructionist” Opposition for a parliamentary discourse. “Parliament is the place where such discussions should take place. If parliament would have been allowed to work, and discussions would have allowed to take place, Chidambaram would have presented his case there, and Arun Jaitley or Opposition could have debated the issue there. For Jaitley to say that they didn’t allow parliament to function because government is culpable, he must know that according to the Constitution, culpability on CAG report is fixed by the PAC. My humble request to them (BJP) is to allow the PAC to ascertain the CAG report, and secondly I would request Arun Jaitley to come to parliament and discuss the issue there.” Dixit said.

Congress sticks behind Chidambaram’s comment on Coalgate loss as presumptive