BJP to take coal block issue to people

Panaji, Sep 1 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gopinath Munde Saturday said his party would take the coal blocks allocation issue to the people as part of its campaign to shame Prime Minister Manmohan Singh into resigning.

"This (irregularities in coal blocks allocation) is a national shame. We are telling the people how the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has ripped the country with corrupt policies. The Rs.1.85-lakh crore scam is the biggest ever in India," Munde told reporters here.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in a report has quantified that the nation has lost around Rs.1.85 lakh crore ($37 billion) in coal block allocations to private players.

Munde was in the city as part of the first leg of BJP's countrywide campaign against the UPA government.

"We demand Manmohan Singh's resignation and cancellation of coal block allotments," Munde said.