CPI-M for sacking of Law Minister after SC observations

CPI(M) today demanded sacking of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar after Supreme Court observations against the government in the coalgate and asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to place facts before the nation.
"Supreme Court's scathing remarks regarding the sharing of the CBI's coalgate report with the Law Minster has made his continuance in office totally untenable. The Law Minister must resign or be removed from office forthwith," CPI(M) polit bureau said in a statement here.
It said the Prime Minister's strong defence of the Law Minister also raised serious questions as to who else was aware of this "gross interference" in the process by the executive.

"The country needs to know the whole truth. The Prime Minister must come clean before the nation," it said.
Addressing a press conference here, CPI(M) polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury said the Supreme Court observations were tantamount to indictment of the government for interfering with a court-ordered investigation.
"The Law Minister's continuance in office is completely untenable after the Supreme Court's comments. The Prime Minister needs to tell Parliament the truth. This should be done. This is what we have been telling them. Face Parliament," said Yechury, who was flanked by senior leader Basudeb Acharia.
The CPI(M) also renewed the demand for an independent panel of lawyers to represent the CBI in courts.

Yechury wondered as to how law officers, who were political appointees, could appear on behalf of the CBI.