BJP is 'self-firing automatic weapon full of blanks': Manish Tewari

New Delhi, Oct 16: With the opposition targeting the Prime Minister over coal block allocations in wake of remarks of ex-Coal Secretary P C Parakh, I&B Minister Manish Tewari today hit back, saying BJP is a "self-firing automatic weapon which is unfortunately full of blanks".

"Our attention has been drawn to some reports which have appeared in the sections of press today. Most respectfully, I would like to submit that the entire matter is under investigation and the investigation that is being monitored by the Supreme Court of India directly," he told reporters here.

"So, therefore, in a subjudice matter where investigations are in progress it is inappropriate for people to be commenting in a manner in which they've done," he said.

Parakh, who has been booked by CBI in the coal scam, earlier said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the final decision maker and must be counted as a "conspirator", prompting BJP to demand a thorough probe.

On if the latest FIR in connection with alleged irregularities in the allocation of two coal blocks in Odisha would give fresh ammunition to BJP, Tewari said, "Well do you think that the Bhartiya Janata Party requires ammunition".

"They are a self-propelled and self-firing automatic weapon which is unfortunately full of blanks," he said. Attacking the opposition party, Tewari said, "To expect anything else from BJP except irresponsibility would be expecting the Sun to rise from the west rather than the east.

"So, therefore, I don't think it is important as to what BJP has to say, because they have been saying this for the last ten years. But responsibility and propriety demand that in an investigation which is being monitored by the apex court, people need to be restrained in their utterances," he said.

The Minister said that if some people did have anything to say, they will have their say at the appropriate forum, at the appropriate time. The government has provided all documents to the investigators and, therefore, this "unnecessary speculation" is something which needs to be avoided, he added.

PTI