PM rules out immediate cancellation of coal blocks

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today ruled out immediate cancellation of coal block allocations as demanded by BJP and made it clear that he was ready for a fight with the opposition on the issue.

Singh conveyed his determination about not going for immediate cancellation of the coal block allocations informally to some senior ministers here, sources told PTI.

BJP has demanded cancellation of coal blocks but the Prime Minister is of the view that this could not be done immediately, the sources said.

Singh has made it clear that he was ready to fight it out with the opposition on the issue and was ready to give answer to every question raised by the BJP, they said.

Earlier, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said the coal block allocation issue was being probed on two fronts -- one by the CBI and other by an Inter-Ministerial Group -- and that cancellation cannot be resorted to before the IMG gives its report by September 15.