New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS): A combative Opposition today demanded Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation over the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) report on coal block allocation, leading to the Lok Sabha being adjourned for the day and disruptions in the Rajya Sabha.
Both Houses were adjourned soon after they met when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Opposition raised the matter.
In the Lok Sabha, the issue did not die down when the house met after the short adjournment till 12 noon with the opposition rushing towards Speaker Meira Kumar's podium.
The government said the opposition should let the house function and have a discussion on the issue. The government offered a discussion in the house with Home Minister and Leader of the House Sushilkumar Shinde saying: "We can discuss the issue. We have no objection."
The speaker asked the opposition if it agreed to the discussion but the slogans and shouting continued, forcing her to adjourn the house for the day.
There were similar scenes in the Rajya Sabha, forcing chairperson Hamid Ansari to adjourn the house till 12 noon.
"The house was adjourned as the BJP demanded the prime minister's resignation over the coal scam... it is the demand of the nation as people are shocked to see the way the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) regime is looting the country," said BJP leader Prakash Javadekar.
"It is unfortunate that they stalled the house and didn't let anyone speak. We are prepared for a detailed discussion and then we will see what happens. They (BJP) want to create a situation of crisis but people should know the truth and what is their (BJP) role in coal allocation scam," said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.
Bansal said demands for the prime minister's resignation were "baseless".
India's official auditor had last week revealed that the lack of transparency in the allocation of coal blocks to private players resulted in a loss of a whopping Rs.1.85 lakh crore ($37 billion) to the exchequer as on March 11 last year.
The audit report does not directly indict the prime minister or his office. But during the time these mining blocks in question were allotted, the coal portfolio was held by him -- between July 2004 and May 2009.
