Shukla criticizes BJP for disrupting Parliament

New Delhi, Aug.21 (ANI): Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla on Tuesday criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for disrupting parliament despite the government's willingness to engage in a debate on the coal scam in the house.

Shukla said: "They always ask for the Prime Minister's resignation. The BJP, from day one, wants the Prime Minister's resignation. They have been raising the coal issue. We are ready for a debate and a discussion in the house. All the facts would come into public domain. How are BJP chief ministers are involved in it? Why are they running away from the debate?" asked Shukla.

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav supported the motion for having a debate on the coal scam issue in parliament.

"Our party believes that there should be first debate on coal scam or any other scams," Yadav said.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati sought a high-level inquiry into the facts revealed in the CAG report.

"The CAG report has been released. A high level committee should study the facts revealed by it. I think the right picture would emerge before the public. And then action should be taken against culprits," said Mayawati.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reported that the government had allocated coal blocks, power projects and land for Delhi's flagship airport at a fraction of market prices, potentially costing the exchequer tens of billions of dollars in lost revenues.

The BJP sought resignation from beleaguered Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, particularly about one report that suggested private companies made windfall gains of about 33 billion dollars because of the under-priced sale of coalfields.

However, the government was ready to debate in the parliament, alleging that BJP state chiefs had advised against auction and recommended allotment of coal blocks to private companies.

Since 2004 although the government had said it will change to more transparent auctions, it had not done so even in the month of February, this year.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has lurched from crisis to crisis since the same auditor uncovered corrupt practices two years ago in the sale of telecoms licenses.

The sale of telecom licenses for 2G Spectrum has notionally cost the government up to 36 billion dollars.

Prime Minister Singh's office maintains the government was simply following established policy, and before the report was released, they denied there had been wrongdoing. (ANI)