Having brought the Budget Session to a halt over demand for resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and law Minister Ashwini Kumar, the BJP has now decided to take its campaign against Coalgate onto the streets.
The Opposition party on Sunday announced a two-day agitation programme in all State capitals from May 4 against the Government’s ‘abominable attempt’ to cover up the massive corruption. local party units will hold demonstrations in all State capital between May 4 and 5 after which they will submit a memorandum to the Governors.
“An abominable attempt is being made by the Congress Government to cover up the corruption that has surfaced in the coal issue. The BJP has decided to take this fight against corruption and massive cover up from Parliament to the people of the country,” party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters.
The Opposition party also dismissed PM’s strong defence of the law Minister and alleged that Singh was “using” his Cabinet colleague to “shield” himself. “The PM says that the law Minister will not resign. He is using the latter as a shield and, hence protecting him. Singh fears that if the law Minister goes, the next to be in the firing line will be he himself,” Javadekar said.
The BJP leader claimed the law Minister vetted CBI’s affidavit for Supreme Court on the Coalgate issue with the direct consent and order from the PM, so the latter’s complicity and culpability was also very much established.
“The Prime Minister says that by not allowing Parliament to function, we are making mockery of our system of democracy and the whole world is laughing at us. The fact is that they are laughing at us for the corruption in the country and how attempts are being made to cover it up. We want to ask the Prime Minister. Is it not a fact that you have signed on the (papers for) allocation of coal blocks in whatever cases have come to light in the coal scamIJ We completely reject the Prime Minister’s statement that the law Minister will not resign,” Javadekar said.
The BJP leader also put the blame on the Congress and the Government for the non-functioning of Parliament, saying that the BJP is ready to discuss all issues but for that the Government has to “take action (into the coal scam), (the law Minister has to) resign and withdraw the JPC report”.
“If Parliament is not running, it’s not us but the Congress is responsible. They do not want discussion and hence do not allow Parliament to run because they have to engage in covering up this massive corruption,” Javadekar said.