Cong benefited in coal blocks allocation, charges BJP

Stepping up attack after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rejected CAG's observations on coal block allocation, BJP on Monday alleged that he was directly responsible for causing delay in amending laws on auction with the aim of bringing financial benefit to Congress.

Sushma Swaraj, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, accused Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh of making money for the Congress Party in the coal-gate scam worth 1.86 lakh crore. Addressing a news conference she alleged that the ruling UPA alliance has made "mota-maal" (big money) in the allocation of 142 coal blocks.

"If I try to give you an English version then it would lose its punch. The prime minister has placed his statement on the floor of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in which he said that he alone is responsible for distribution of coal-blocks when he was the minister in charge of coal. He should not only own up moral responsibility, we want him to resign," she told reporters.

"Congress has got a fat sum from coal block allocation that is why this delay (in amending the laws) was caused. My charge is that huge revenue was generated but it did not go to the government and went to the Congress party," Swaraj said.

Slamming prime minister's statement disputing CAG's findings, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said it was an assault on constitutionalism and constitutional authority.

Sticking firmly to their demand for Singh's resignation, BJP sought cancellation of all the 142 coal block allocations done since 2006 which should then be auctioned.

"If an impartial inquiry is conducted, I can say with full responsibility as Leader of Opposition that Congress will be in the dock along with the government," Swaraj said.

"We charge that the moral responsibility for this lies with the prime minister. He should accept moral responsibility and resign," she said.

Jaitley alleged, "UPA tried to subvert constitutional authority and if it did not succeed, then it attacked the constitutional authority. This is defiance of ethics in governance and polity."

With inputs from PTI