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India PM defends government on coalfields | |
(35 minutes later) | |
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has defended his government in parliament over the controversial sale of coalfields, amid chanting and loud protests from the opposition benches. | |
Mr Singh was barely audible over the din, but his office later tweeted extracts from his speech. | |
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has stalled parliament for a week now insisting that the PM resign. | |
A government report says India lost $33bn (£20bn) by misselling coalfields. | A government report says India lost $33bn (£20bn) by misselling coalfields. |
Although the report by the independent auditor has exonerated Manmohan Singh, the BJP is demanding his resignation since he was leading the coal ministry at the time of the sale. | Although the report by the independent auditor has exonerated Manmohan Singh, the BJP is demanding his resignation since he was leading the coal ministry at the time of the sale. |
"I seek the indulgence of the house to make a statement on issues regarding coal block [coalfield] allocations," Mr Singh read out from his statement in the Lok Sabha, the lower house, even as the opposition raised slogans demanding his resignation. | |
"I wish to say that any allegations of impropriety are without basis and unsupported by the facts. | |
"I want to assure members that as the minister in-charge, I take full responsibility for the decisions of the ministry," Mr Singh said. | |
The prime minister appealed to the opposition to "let the house function... let the country judge where the truth lies". | |
The prime minister has been waiting to make a statement in parliament since last week but has been unable to do so because of angry protests from the opposition. | The prime minister has been waiting to make a statement in parliament since last week but has been unable to do so because of angry protests from the opposition. |
'Greatest scandal' | 'Greatest scandal' |
Senior BJP leaders say, if needed, they will stretch their protest to cover the entire monsoon session, due to end on 8 September. | |
On Sunday, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said suggestions that the issue should be debated only in the parliament would "put a lid on one of the greatest scandals in Indian history". | |
"The prime minister's office is a sacred institution in Indian democracy. It has to be judged by standards much harsher than those which would apply to [former telecommunications] ministers like A Raja," Mr Jaitley wrote in an article released by his party. | |
Mr Raja quit last year after his ministry was accused of underselling telecoms licences, which auditors say cost the country about $40bn (£24.5bn). | Mr Raja quit last year after his ministry was accused of underselling telecoms licences, which auditors say cost the country about $40bn (£24.5bn). |
Mr Raja has denied all the charges, but he was arrested and spent 15 month in jail before being released on bail in May. | Mr Raja has denied all the charges, but he was arrested and spent 15 month in jail before being released on bail in May. |
The government auditors in their report last week said coalfields were allotted without auction from 2005 to 2009. | The government auditors in their report last week said coalfields were allotted without auction from 2005 to 2009. |
The government says coalfields were "allocated by the same procedure by previous governments" and that they just followed the same policy. | The government says coalfields were "allocated by the same procedure by previous governments" and that they just followed the same policy. |
The sale of coalfields has been dubbed "Coalgate" by the opposition. | |
India is one of the largest producers of coal in the world. | India is one of the largest producers of coal in the world. |
The auditor's report on the sale of coal is the latest in a series of financial scandals to hit the Congress-led government and the revelations have caused anger among the opposition politicians and citizens alike. | The auditor's report on the sale of coal is the latest in a series of financial scandals to hit the Congress-led government and the revelations have caused anger among the opposition politicians and citizens alike. |
On Sunday, police in the capital, Delhi, baton-charged hundreds of anti-corruption protesters angered by the sale of coalfields without open bidding. | On Sunday, police in the capital, Delhi, baton-charged hundreds of anti-corruption protesters angered by the sale of coalfields without open bidding. |
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