Coalgate: BJP to launch two-day agitation from May 4

New Delhi, April 28: Attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the coal block issue,

today announced its plan for a two-day agitation in all state capitals from May 4 against the government's "abominable attempt" to "cover up the massive corruption".

"An abominable attempt is being made by the Congress government to cover up the corruption that has surfaced in the coal issue. 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 here.

"We will hold demonstrations in all state capitals on May 4 and 5 on the issue and submit a memorandum to the Governors," he said.

Rejecting the Prime Minister's strong defence of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, the BJP leader alleged that Singh was "using" the latter as a "shield" to protect himself.

"The Law Minister did it with the direct consent and order from the Prime Minister. So the Prime Minister's complicity and culpability is also very very established. He (Kumar) looked at the CBI report at the instance of the PM.

"The Prime Minister 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 said his party will organise "massive protest rallies" across the state capitals on both days to highlight "how the government is engaging shamelessly in the massive cover up".

"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 scam? We completely reject the Prime Minister's statement that the Law Minister will not resign," Javadekar said.

PTI