New Delhi, Aug 21 (IBNS): The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Tuesday over the coal report of the CAG pointing finger at the loss-making coal block allocations when the portfolio was held by the Prime Minister.
As the Lok Sabha resumed function at noon after an adjournment, uproar returned demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by the opposition led by the BJP.
While it was expected that the PM would make a statement in parliament over the coal issue, the BJP said they want Singh to step down.
"We are not interested in the PM's statement, we just want him to quit," said BJP lawmaker Prakash Javadekar.
Earlier both house of parliament were adjourned till noon after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was targetted by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) report on loss-making coal block allocations.
The opposition demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister and an uproar was created.
The BJP was all geared up to take on the government and particularly target the PM.
Senior BJP leaders met the day before and worked out their strategies.
The Opposition said the PM cannot point finger at the allies for the coal scam.
Communist Party of India (CPI) MP Gurudas Dasgupta said the PM should take moral responsibility of the scam and resign if his conscience said so, while the BJP was ballistic about the PM's resignation.
PM can make a statement in House on the issue though Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day.
India’s beleaguered coalition government found itself under more pressure since Friday as findings of the state auditor tabled in the Parliament estimated a loss of over Rs 3 lakh crore to the national exchequer owing to questionable deals.
The report by the CAG said 25 private companies received benefits of around Rs 1.86 lakh crore through of coal block allocations in various states.
A separate report claimed that Rs. 1.63 crore were lost by the manner in which the land for Delhi’s international airport was leased.
The reports mounted pressure on the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government that is already reeling under allegations of corruption scandals and prickly ties between allies compounding economic woes.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) V Narayanasamy said the CAG report on coal block allocation was only preliminary and it needed to be tested.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said earlier that the PM held coal portfolio when allocation were held.
She said he was involved in the matter and will not be able to blame anyone else for the scam.
The BJP said the Congress is making 'new records' in corruption.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was even attacked by the now disbanded anti-corruption group Team Anna members over the controversial coal blocks allocation while he was in charge of the portfolio.
