Parliament adjourned for 2nd day, BJP sticks to demand for PM’s ouster

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Aug 22, 2012 : Both houses of parliament were thrown into turmoil for the second consecutive day today over the CAG report over allotment of coal blocks, with the main opposition party BJP blocking the proceedings and demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
As soon as both houses assembled for the day, BJP members are up on their feet and demanded the PM’s resignation.

Rajya Sabha was adjourned for half an hour, and Lok Sabha was adjourned for an hour.

Parliamentary Affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said that BJP members were obstructing proceedings, because they were fighting shy of a debate as some BJP chiefministers were part of the decision to allot the coal blocks.

Bansal said, the government had offered to discuss the CAG report on Friday itself, though the charges made by the BJP were baseless and devoid of truth.

"Their (BJP-ruled states) chief ministers were also part of the decision to allot coal blocks to private parties. If there is a debate, the truth about their chief ministers will come out", said Bansal.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said, there was no need for a debate.

"What do you require a debate for? This is a case where the Prime Minister himself was the Coal Minister. The CAG report clearly states that coal blocks were allocated to private parties for much lesser prices.

"You (govt) hold up competitive bidding, and knowing that the bidding could start any time, the private parties were in a hurry to get the coal blocks at throwaway prices.

" Why did you not go in for competitive bidding for the last 8 years? Why not even now in 2012", asked Jaitley.

Jaitley said, if there was proper investigation, more glaring facts will tumble out. "The screening committee was only a recommendatory agency", he added.

The BJP leader said the Congress party’s charge that some BJP chief ministers were also part of the decision to allot coal blocks was "complete rubbish" because coal is a major mineral, and only the Centre was authorised to allocate coal blocks.

"While 24 states in the country supported competitive bidding, states which have coal-bearing mines raised the questions about their share of revenue", said Jaitley.

"We are not wanting a discussion on the CAG report. Our experience in the 2G scam has been bitter. For the first time in the history of Parliament, the Congress divided the Public Accounts Committee on the 2G scam issue. You did not allow PAC to function independently", he said.

 

Courtesy : Deccan Herald