'Honest' Manmohan Singh's name dragged in coal scam, says Ajay Maken

Congress leader Ajay Maken on Thursday described former prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh as an honest person and said it is extremely unfortunate that the latter's name has been dragged into the coal blocks allocation scam.

"With all the unity, we all stand with Dr. Manmohan Singh. Whosoever has seen him working can say that there cannot be an honest person like him. It is unfortunate the way his name has been dragged into this," Maken said.

Congress leader Ashwani Kumar echoing similar sentiments expressed confidence that the superior courts will completely vindicate the former prime minister.

"I think the majesty of the law will be vindicated in the full-final exoneration of Dr. Manmohan Singh. We have no doubt that the higher courts will see the justice of the course and fully vindicate Dr. Manmohan Singh," he said.

The Congress leaders were talking to the media after party chief Sonia Gandhi led a 'solidarity march' to Dr. Singh's residence from the AICC Headquarters at 24, Akbar Road, here.

Earlier on Wednesday, a special court in Delhi summoned the former prime minister, former coal secretary P.C. Parakh, industrialist Kumar Manglam Birla and three others in the coal blocks allocation case.

The court summoned them for offences of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. They have all been asked to appear in court on the April 8.

The case pertains to allocation of Talabira II coal block in Odisha to M/s Hindalco in 2005, when the then prime minister was holding the coal portfolio.