To reinforce his image of 'Mr Clean', Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is seriously considering addressing the nation on the issue of coalgate and the impasse in Parliament with opposition Bharatiya Janata Party not allowing the House to run.
Sources say that the prime minister would implement the idea if BJP remains adamant and does not allow the House to function even next week.
Sources add the PM does not want to make his statement on the floor of the Parliament amidst the din and noise generated by the BJP benches, and would prefer to send his message through a televised address. "At least he would be heard in peace," sources say.
It is learnt that the prime minister is likely to speak to senior BJP leader LK Advani on Saturday and ask him to let the House function.
Sources in the Congress say the problem for the BJP is that it is looking for a 'face saver' to return to the House and is clear that it does not want a discussion on the issue of coal gate.
Many senior BJP leaders' confidantes have benefited from the coal block allocation, they sought to point out.
Sources add that with the prime minister leaving for Iran on Tuesday to participate in the NAM Summit, the government would agree to move on to another subject while a discussion on coal gate would be deferred to another "convenient" date in the not so near future.
This would effectively handle the problem of no discussion and Parliament would be allowed to conduct other businesses before the monsoon session ends on September 7.
It is learnt that pressure is mounting on the BJP to give up the disruption of Parliament with the prime minister deciding to approach Advani directly even as other political parties are also talking to the BJP leaders.
