Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directly responsible for coal scam: Arun Jaitley

INDORE: Holding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "directly responsible" for the Rs 1.86 lakh crore loss estimated by CAG in allocation of coal blocks, the BJP today demanded that he quit his post.

"When 2G scam that cost the exchequer of Rs 1,76,000 crore happened, it was said that then telecom minister A Raja was responsible for it and prime minister might have had an indirect role in it. But in the Rs 1,86,000 crore coal scam, prime minister is directly responsible and therefore he has no right to remain in office even for a day," Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said while addressing a Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) rally here.

"Of the eight years during which this coal scam took place, the Coal Ministry remained with prime minister for five years," he said, adding the scam has cost the exchequer Rs 10,000 crore more than the 2G scam.

Jaitley said the Centre lacks "credibility" and is unable to take decisions which is evident from many instances of graft coming to light during the UPA rule.