Strange goings on.

The CBI says that 257 files relating to the coal mines allocation scam, known as Coalgate, are missing. HT, 22 August. The government has agreed that some files are indeed missing but said that only 7 files are " being searched " ( sic ). Sadly for the government the Comptroller and Auditor General has poked a spoke in the works by announcing that it has copies of all the files. " It is our practice to retain copies of all key documents pertaining to an audit report. These are the documents crucial to the report," said the CAG. Livemint, 23 August. It was the previous CAG, Vinod Rai which set a cat among the pigeons by exposing the dirt on allocations of coal mines and calculating the loss to the nation of Rs 1.8 trillion. This upset our most revered Finance Minster who said in an interview," I think the former CAG did grave damage to the system. He exceeded his jurisdiction and his mandate. We are importing 160 million tonnes of coal when we should be exporting coal. We have coal reserves for over 200 years." ET, 31 July. He did not explain why only 2 blocks out of 160 captive blocks, allocated between 2004 and 2008, have started production. Meanwhile, a senior officer of the US Air Force, General Herbert " Hawk " Carlisle, Commander of the US Air Force assets in the Pacific, claimed that the US intends to build a base in Trivandrum in India as part of its plan to surround China through its " pivot to Asia " policy. This was instantly denied by the government of India. " India is not going to allow any foreign country to establish any military base on its soil," said Defense Ministry sources. ET, 22 August. Why not? If Sri Lanka and Pakistan have already allowed China to build bases in their countries to encircle India in a " string of pearls " then why do we not take this opportunity to shore up our defense, especially when the cockroach-eaters keep coming across our borders at will. Of course, any military presence will have to be under strict control and linked to complete stoppage of any military assistance to Pakistan. It would not only give food for thought to the cockroach-eaters but bring in huge amounts of dollars and create thousands of local jobs in support services. It could also provide us with precious knowledge about advanced systems. But of course it would not win any elections.