Coal scam: PM should resign to uphold sanctity of his office, says BJP

Patna: The BJP today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to resign to uphold the sanctity of his office before submitting himself to questioning by CBI in the coal scam.

“It is fine that the Prime Minister has expressed his willingness to face a CBI probe in the Coal scam and said that he is not above law… but we would like him to be questioned by the agency not in his capacity as the PM, but as the Coal Minister Manmohan Singh who approved coal blocks allotment,” BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahanwaz Hussain told reporters here.

“It will demean sanctity of the high constitutional post of the Prime Minister if the CBI questions him the coal scam and so he must tender his resignation on moral ground before submitting himself to probe in the said scam,” he said.

Another BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who was also present at the press conference, said that the PM’s remarks should not be taken at face value.

The Prime Minister had earlier volunteered to appear before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in another scam, but had later refused to do so citing certain rules which reportedly did not permit him to appear before the said panel, Rudy said.

Singh can not escape responsibility for the coal scam as he had signed the files for coal blocks allotment and must resign after the CBI probe reportedly bringing his role under scanner, Rudy added.

The Prime Minister had yesterday said that he was not above the law and offered to face CBI in the coal scam probe.

PTI