PM should take moral responsibility of coal allocation scam and resign: BJP

NEW DELHI: Slamming the UPA on the handling of coal block allocation issue, Bhartiya Janata Party ( BJP) on Monday called the government's claims about auction self-contradictory.

Demanding an impartial probe on the issue coal block allocations, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj said that the money from the allocation has gone to the Congress party. The allocation of coal blocks has not led to any growth, BJP said.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley said that the Prime Minsiter should take moral responsibility of the coal allocation scam and resign.

Earlier in the day, Addressing both houses of the Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that the the allegations of impropriety in coal block allocation are without basis and unsupported by facts.

Amidst din from the opposition, Manmohan Singh called the observations made by CAG in the coal report flawed on multiple counts. "The observations of the CAG are 'clearly disputable", Singh said. "I want to assure Honourable Members that as the Minister in charge, I take full responsibility for the decisions of the Ministry," he added.

Following the Prime Minister's statement, both houses of the Parliament were adjourned. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members persisted with their demand for Prime Minister's resignation over 'faulty' allocation of coal blocks.

Speaking outside the Parliament, Manmohan Singh urged the opposition to debate the issue inside. Singh said that the CAG's observations will be challenged when the matter comes before Public Accounts Co. BJP is disrupting the normal proceedings of the Parliament, let the country judge where the truth lies," Singh said. He further said that he wants to assure the country that the government has a strong and credible case.