Pawar backs Prime Minister in Talabira coal block allocation case

Agriculture minister criticises opposition for seeking PM's resignation while terming it mischievous

Union agriculture minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday extended his support to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the Talabira coal block allocation matter. He, instead, criticised opposition for seeking Prime Minister's resignation while terming it as ‘mischievous’.

Pawar, at the sidelines of a function in Navi Mumbai, said “Prime Minister has a clean image. Making accusation against Prime Minister is completely improper as it will malign India’s image.”

Pawar also asked press and media not to overplay the issue of Prime Minister’s resignation and drag him into the issue.

Pawar was reacting to the controversy erupted after the CBI filed FIR against Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla in connection with the allocation of coal block to Hindalco and thereafter BJP questioning the role of the Prime Minister and his resignation.