Coal block allocations: Govt hits out at opposition, defends PM

[1]

Government on Friday defended Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after Parliament was disrupted for the fourth consecutive day as opposition triggered uproar in both Houses demanding resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over controversial coal block allocations.

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram slammed BJP saying that there is conspiracy against the govt to tarnish its image as the party is unwilling to allow Parliament to function or discuss any issue over coal block allocations. He also added that Prime Minister is ready to make a statement on coal block allocation in Parliament in the context of CAG report.

Finance Minister further made a fervent appeal to the Opposition to allow Parliament to function from Monday. Chidambaram said that the presumptive loss concept is flawed. "If coal is not mined, where is the loss," asked Chidambaram.

Finance Minister justified the move taken by UPA saying that the procedure of coal block allocation followed by the government was the one followed earlier by NDA and other governments.

"It is sad that now we are being attacked for continuation of the policy that has been going on for many years," said Chidambaram. He continued saying that in 2005, government after government in states had opposed auctioning of coal blocks.