New Delhi:
Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj has rejected an effort by Congress President Sonia Gandhi to end the impasse in Parliament over coal block allocation. When Mrs Gandhi spoke to Mrs Swaraj, she was told that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh must step down, coal block allocation must be cancelled and a fair inquiry must be instituted.
"Friends from media are asking me as to whether Mrs Sonia Gandhi spoke to me? If yes then what transpired between us?... Yes Mrs Gandhi spoke to me on phone. She wanted the Parliamentary impasse to end by our agreeing to a discussion... I told her that the Government should announce the cancellation of Coal blocks and institute a fair and independent inquiry. Then we could have a discussion," Ms Swaraj wrote on the micro-blogging site Twitter this evening.
The report tabled by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India or CAG, which alleges irregularities in the allotment of coal blocks, has created a political storm. The BJP has disrupted both Houses for eight days now, forcing adjournments every day.
According to the report by the national auditor, the country lost Rs. 1.86 lakh crore because 142 coal fields were given cheaply to private and state-run firms between 2005 and 2009 instead of being auctioned. The BJP says this was done on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's watch and he is, therefore, obliged to exit office. Till that happens, the party has said, it will not allow Parliament to function. Dr Singh has said that there is no question of him resigning.
The BJP says it is not happy at having to disrupt Parliament, admits it cannot do so "as a policy" on every issue, but stoutly justifies its actions on the coal block allocation issue. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley told NDTV, "If by sacrificing one session of Parliament the telecom set up can be cleaned up, it is a small price to pay." Part of the BJP's demand is that the coal block allocations be cancelled.
(
With inputs from PTI)