CAG report: Govt-Oppn headed for prolonged confrontation

On a day when both the Houses of Parliament were rocked by the CAG report on coal allocation suggesting a loss of Rs 1.86 lakh crore, the Prime Minister said "satisfactory anwsers" would be given to all issues if a debate was allowed.

The two Houses, which were adjourned till noon following uproarious scenes, could not transact any business barring the smooth and unanimous election of P J Kurien of the Congress to the post of Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Again when they met for the Zero Hour, members from the BJP-led NDA rushed to the well of both the Houses demanding resignation of the Prime Minister and the Government over the prime minister's "moral and direct" responsibility in coal allocation as Minister in-charge of Coal department. Members of the AIADMK and TDP also joined the protest.

Government rejected the demand for Singh's resignation as "preposterous" and accused the Opposition of "trying to make an issue out of nothing" but the BJP said it will not relent till its demand is met.

A battery of ministers including P K Bansal, Salman Khurshid and Kapil Sibal rejected the demand for the prime minister's resignation. They attacked the Opposition saying the coal block allocation was made on the basis of recommendations of state governments ruled by non-UPA parties.

Singh himself said the government is ready for any debate and give satisfactory answers to all issues raised.

"We are ready for any debate," he told reporters, adding "We can give satisfactory answers to all issues being raised." (MORE)