SC observations on coal scam: BJP raps govt

BJP today said the Supreme Court observations against the UPA government on its reported interference in the CBI's functioning were unprecedented for any dispensation and it is a shame that this regime had to face such remarks.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said the apex court has termed this a "massive breach of trust" that the CBI had to share the report on coal scam with the political executive.
"I don't think any government has had to face this kind of remarks," she said, adding, "It is unfortunate for any country that the highest court of the land has said this about its government. It should be a matter of shame."

She charged that the UPA government and its law officers have misled the Supreme Court.
Swaraj maintained that BJP will continue to demand the resignation of the Prime Minister and Law Minister Ashwani Kumar on the coal issue as well as the alleged vetting of the CBI report by Kumar, a Joint Secretary each from the PMO and Coal Ministry.
BJP President Rajnath Singh issued a statement saying the government has played a "cruel joke" on the judicial system of the country when a law officer misled it earlier by saying no political executive had seen the CBI report.

Lambasting the Centre, Singh demanded that should resign after these observations made by the court.

"The government has made large scale changes in the content of the status report filed by the CBI and now it is shying away from owning moral responsibility for it. The government is now trying to cover up its misdeeds by subverting the investigation process and keeping the court in the dark on the whole issue," he said.
Singh claimed that the apex court observations today have validated the BJP charge.
"By arm twisting the CBI to share its status report with the Law Ministry and the PMO the incumbent government has touched a new low. Prime Minister should also tender an apology to the people of India for desecrating the dignity of our constitutional institutions," he said.