This Article is From Sep 02, 2012

Highlights: PM must resign over coal-gate, says Sushma Swaraj

Highlights: PM must resign over coal-gate, says Sushma Swaraj
Mumbai: BJP leader Sushma Swaraj slammed the Congress-led UPA government once again over the coal controversy in a press conference in Mumbai, where she was protesting against the alleged scam. Ms Swaraj said that the coal-gate is the biggest scam in India's history, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has to resign over it.

Here are the highlights of what Ms Swaraj said:

  • It seems like the scams by the UPA government are competing against each other.
  • I am accusing the government that it delayed the process of policy-making so that it could allocate coal blocks quickly.
  • Revenue came, but not to the government, it went to the Congress party.
  • PM said the coal blocks were allocated quickly to help the GDP rise and for electricity production. I ask how power has been produced due to the coal block allocations.
  • From 1993 to 2005, 70 blocks were allocated. And in 2005 to 2008 , 142 coal blocks were allocated.
  • Raja was blamed for 2G, Kalmadi for Commonwealth Games; this is the first time the PM and big ministers of Congress are directly responsible for a scam.
  • Talks with Sonia Gandhi over Parliament logjam were inconclusive. I told her discussion in Parliament can happen only after all coal block allocations are cancelled and an independent probe is announced.
  • It is not true that we have climbed down from our demand of the PM's resignation. We are determined on that demand.
  • Many times a logjam in Parliament leads to revenue. Think about the financial gain the country will get if the licences are cancelled and an auction is done. Do not think just about the loss due to stand-off in Parliament.

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