The United Progressive Alliance government on Saturday appeared to be in a combative mood on the issue of alleged coal scam with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh refusing to step down.
He also refused to sack the law minister over allegations of vetting a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report on coal block allocations. Stating that the “whole world” was “laughing” at India for the stalemate in Parliament, the prime minister appealed to the opposition to let the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha function.
“This is not the first time in the last nine years. How many times the opposition has demanded my resignation?” Singh told reporters at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The prime minister also dismissed the opposition’s demand for the resignation of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar.
Published 27 April 2013, 21:50 IST