PM to make statement in RS on missing coal files

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will make a statement in Rajya Sabha today immediately after the Zero Hour on the issue of missing files relating to allocation of coal blocks.

This was announced in the House by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla in response to Opposition's demand for Singh's statement on the multi-crore coal block allocation scam.

BJP has been demanding for a statement from the Prime Minister, who earlier held the coal portfolio from 2006 to 2009 when the coal blocks were allocated.

The main opposition wanted Singh's response today itself as the Prime Minister leaves for St Petersburg for the G-20 Summit tomorrow.

Shukla said the Prime Minister was ready to make a statement on an earlier occasion, but could not do so because of disruptions over the Telangana issue and subsequent adjournment of the House.

This did not pacify the BJP members who even raised slogans, leading to the adjournment of the House for 10 minutes.

When the House reassembled, similar scenes continued.

Shukla then assured the members that the Prime Minister would make the statement immediately after the Zero Hour, following which normalcy was restored.