CAG report on coal: Opposition to corner PM

The government is all set to brave a raging attack from the Opposition on Monday as Parliament takes up the CAG report on coal blocks allocations.

A belligerent BJP-led Opposition will seek to corner Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the coal scam case.

According to the CAG report on coal blocks allocations, nearly 44 billion tonnes of coal were given away at throwaway prices to private companies during the tenure of Singh as coal minister. Also, the report said that 194 coal blocks were allotted to companies on mere recommendations.

The entire deal led to a loss of Rs 1.86 lakh crore for the national exchequer.

The CAG said that the Prime Minister ignored the then law minister and the then Coal Secretary's advice to auction the coal blocks that benefited private companies like Tata, Birla and the Jindals.

The BJP has already demanded the PM's resignation over the issue.

Post an NDA meeting that was held on Monday evening to discuss its strategy on the issue, chief BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the party will raise the coal allocations in a "bigger way" in Parliament.