Coal scam: BJP demands PM's resignation over CAG report
Parliament is set to witness a stormy week from today onwards, as the BJP seems determined to embarrass the Centre over the CAG's damaging report on the allocation of coalfields. Vikas Pathak reports. CAG punch | Talk box
Parliament is set to witness a stormy week from Tuesday onwards, as the BJP seems determined to embarrass the Centre over the CAG's damaging report on the allocation of coalfields.
"We have demanded the resignation of the PM and will repeat our demand. It is unlikely that Parliament will function smoothly," a BJP leader told HT.
The party is particularly enthused about the idea that this report embarrasses the Prime Minister directly, as he was also the coal minister for much of the period. Due to this, the party focused solely on this scam on Friday though three CAG reports had come out.
"Politically, it suits us to step up the pressure in this matter. One blow after another as scams tumble out regularly will further deepen the impression in the public mind that the Congress is the root of corruption. When Congress leaders attack the CAG, they further dent their own credibility in the public mind," said another BJP leader.
He recalled how then defence minister KC Pant used to defend the government after the Bofors scam, further "alienating" people.
The government on its part is also unsure about whether the Opposition would allow it to transact its business.
"We have a few important legislations such as Protection of Women Against Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Bill and the Chemical Weapons Convention Bill to pass tomorrow, but we are not sure if the Opposition would allow us to work," Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Bansal said on the sidelines of an Eid party.