PM must take responsibility on coal allocation issue: BJP
Published: 22nd August 2012 03:52 PM | Last Updated: 22nd August 2012 03:52 PM | A+A A-
BJP Wednesday remained firm on
its demand for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation on
the coal allocation issue and insisted that the only way to
end the present impasse in Parliament is for him take
responsibility for the Rs 1.86 lakh crore loss suggested by
CAG.
Drawing a comparison between the 2G spectrum allocation
scam and the Coal allocation controversy, Leader of Opposition
in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley told reporters that while in the
former, Singh was politically and "vicariously" responsible,
in the latter he is directly involved.
"The only way to break the deadlock in Parliament is
if the Prime Minister takes responsibility (for the coal scam)
and acts accordingly," Jaitley said.
The BJP leader maintained that Singh was directly
complicit in the coal allocation case- in which the CAG has
said there was an estimated loss of Rs 1.86 Lakh crore- as he
held the Coal Ministry portfolio for five of the last eight
years of UPA rule.
"There is no way that he can escape responsibility
for this monumental loss," Jaitley said.
BJP contended that the decision to go for auction of coal
blocks was taken in 2004 but it has not been implemented till
now though eight years have passed.
It has refuted the Centre's contention that this delay
was caused as some of the states were opposed to auction,
saying Coal comes under the Centre List and states have no
say.
The main Opposition has alleged this delay has helped
some companies make "windfall gains" in these years.
