Coalgate for 'Dinner'? Is it that easy Mr PM?

New Delhi, Sept 4: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's dinner diplomacy has gone for a toss. The main opposition party BJP is unwilling to listen to him anymore, especially after he has declared that some of the Coalgate files are missing.

The PM's appeal to let the Parliament function fell on deaf ears as the BJP backtracked, smelling conspiracy. Manmohan Singh, in order to reach out to the Opposition in order to place his stand on the coalgate issue, requested BJP leaders LK Advani, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj to let the Parliament function and seeked help to pass crucial reforms like Pensions Bill.

Assuring full co-operation to the CBI, PM said that the guilty, if any, would be punished. "It is too early to say that some coalgate files are missing. If some files are really missing, then will probe and punish the guilty," Singh had said.

The PM requested the House not to draw any hasty conclusions

Why such hurry Manmohanji?

In the light of extreme corruption, would it be right to trust you Mr PM? we think not. We understand your concern over the Pension Bill, but does evading questions on Coalgate clear your grounds?

We also understand how important the Pensions Bill is, but there is no guarantee that files would not be 'misplaced' here too. So, let us concentrate on these issues one by one.

Pension Bill for vote banks?

It was Food Bill, then Land Bill and now Pension Bill. The Pensions Bill proposes 49 per cent FDI in pension and insurance sector and is up for debate. The proposal would free up funds for alternate government use.

The UPA seems to be in an urgency to pocket as many Bills in its pockets before the elections. Does that mean, it gets an edge over the others? We think not, the Coalgate scam still rings alarm bells!

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Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram speaks in Lok Sabha during ongoing monsoon session in New Delhi on Wednesday.

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Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj speaks in Lok Sabha during ongoing monsoon session in New Delhi on Wednesday.

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