Coalgate: PM gearing up for a fight,raises doubts on CAG rpt

New Delhi, Aug 27: With the Opposition gunning for Prime Minister's resignation over the coal block allocation issue, PM

finally decided to break his silence over the issue amidst furore in both the Lok Sabha and the

. With the sloganeering against him intensified, his views were put across through the Prime Minister's Office

.

With the Opposition reiterating their demand that the PM should tender his resignation on the issue, the PM has been quoted as saying in the floor of the house, "I wish to say that any allegations of impropriety are without basis and unsupported by the facts. I seek the indulgence of the House to make a statement on issues regarding coal block allocations. I want to assure honourable members that as the then minister in charge, I take full responsibility for the decisions of the ministry."

Both the houses were earlier adjourned after members raised a ruckus shouting slogans seeking PM's resignation. On the controversial CAG report on the coal block allocation, the PM commented that the findings of the report were disputable.

On the continuous disruption of the Parliament, Singh said, "I am sorry that the House has not been allowed to function. The BJP is determined to disrupt Parliament, but we have a strong and credible case."

Speaking to mediapersons outside the Parliament, Singh stated, "The matter will come to the PAC. I appeal to the Opposition to come back to the House to discuss the issue."

On his silence over the issue all these days, the PM said, "Hazaaron jawabon se acchi hai meri khamoshi, na jaane kitne sawaalon ka aabru rakhe (My silence is better than thousand words)." He added, "This is one occasion where I wished to speak to Parliament and the public. I am sorry that House was not allowed to function. The BJP did not allow the House to function."

On the coalgate issue that has snow-balled into a huge controversy, the PM stressing on his innocence said, "The policy existed since 1993 and previous governments also allocated blocks in precisely the manner that the CAG has now criticised. The UPA I government, for the first time, conceived the idea of making allocations through the competitive bidding route in June 2004."

OneIndia News