Coalgate: Sushma Swaraj says BJP is firm on demanding PM's resignation

New Delhi, Sept 2 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday remained firm on its demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over his role in the alleged coal scam.

Addressing mediapersons here, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj reiterated the BJP's stand, saying that it (BJP) held Prime Minister Singh directly responsible for the coal scam, and that there was no change in the demand for his resignation.

She further flayed the scam-infested UPA regime at the Centre, accusing it of pocketing revenue that should have gone to the national exchequer.

"It seems like the scams by the UPA Government are competing against each other.

I am (directly) accusing the government that it delayed the process of policy making, so that it could allocate coal blocks quickly. Revenue came, but not to the government, it went to the Congress Party," Swaraj alleged.

Speaking on the constant disruptions in the parliamentary proceedings, Swaraj said that until the government cancels the allocations of coal blocks and initiates a probe into the scam, parliament will remain disrupted. Only after these two conditions are agreed, can parliament resume proceedings, she said.

"Many times, a logjam in Parliament leads to revenue. Think about the financial gain the country will get if the licenses are cancelled and an auction is done. Do not think just about the loss due to standoff in parliament," she added.

Earlier on Saturday night, Swaraj tweeted about her chat with Congress president Sonia Gandhi to end the impasse.

Today, she confirmed that Gandhi had spoken to her three days ago, but the net result was status quo.

"Yes, Mrs. Gandhi spoke to me on phone. She wanted the parliament impasse to end by our (BJP) agreeing to a discussion. I told her the government should announce the cancellation of coal blocks (allotment) and institute a fair and independent inquiry. Then we could have a discussion," Swaraj's tweet read. (ANI)