Provoked by the remark of Finance Minister P Chidambaram that the projected Rs 1.86 lakh crore loss in coal block allocation would also turn out to be a mythical and fancy number, the BJP is back with a bang on its demand for resignation of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
At a news conference here a visibly charged BJP National Spokesperson Prakash Javadekar dubbed Mr. Chidambaram’s comment as `highly irresponsible’ and charged him of indulging in brazen insinuation of the CAG.
The entire monsoon session of Parliament was virtually washed out following the BJP led NDA stalling the proceedings on three specific demands including resignation of Dr. Singh.
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As some of the constituents of the NDA and smaller parties got restive towards the final days of the monsoon session, the BJP dropped its demand for resignation of the Prime Minister as a pre-condition to allow the Parliament to function.
It however stuck to the demands an impartial probe and cancellation of all the coal blocks allotted after 2004. The decision of BJP to raise the pitch once again on the demand for resignation of PM three days ahead of winter session of Parliament appears to be a reaction to Mr. Chidabamram’s statement and need not necessarily mean that the party would resort to same tactics in the coming session.
Taking exception to what he termed as the continued attack heaped on the CAG by the Congress Ministers, Mr. Javadekar said that the Congress cannot get away by mocking at the CAG.
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“It is unfortunate that this kind of a statement has come from the Finance Minister that too couple of days before the Winter Session of parliament begins.
“Instead of submitting himself before the JPC probing spectrum allocation issue for his role in the 2G scam, the Finance Minister has indulged in the brazen insinuation of the CAG on the 2G as well as coal scams”.