Opposition uproar over coal files scuttles Food Bill debate in Parliament

NEW DELHI: Consideration of the much-touted Food Security Bill in Parliament was scuttled today with opposition creating uproar over the issue of missing files related to the coal block allocation and demanding a statement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue.

The aggressive opposition paralysed the proceedings even as Coal Minister Shriprakash Jaiswal said no stone would be left unturned in tracing the documents to be provided to the CBI and he was ready to accept any punishment if he was found guilty.

The Food Bill, which provides for entitlement of highly-subsidised rations to two-third population of the country, was listed for debate in the Lok Sabha, coinciding with the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi today.

However, the discussion could not be taken up as the opposition created ruckus over the issue of files related to coal block allocation going missing.

Meanwhile, Congress members from Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema region as also TDP members were agitating against formation of Telangana state.

Raising the issue, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj reminded the Government that the Prime Minister had taken "full responsibility" for the decisions of the Coal Ministry in a statement he made in the House on August 27 last year.

Amid cries of "shame-shame" and "pradhan mantri jawab do", Swaraj said the files included applications for coal blocks and alleged that they have gone missing as some big shots of the Congress were involved.

She wanted the Speaker to direct the Prime Minister to make a statement. Singh had held the coal portfolio from 2006 to 2009 when the coal blocks were allocated.