Missing coal allocation files: BJP to raise issue in House

BJP today said it will raise the issue of missing coal block allocation files in both Houses of Parliament and expects Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who held the coal portfolio, to reply on the concerns raised by the opposition.

The BJP Parliamentary Party, which met here this morning also decided to raise the matter pertaining to Uttar Pradesh government's decision to stop VHP from holding a religious procession in Ayodhya.

"The government had yesterday assured to make a reply in Rajya Sabha. The missing files raise a serious question on efforts to save someone. Since the Prime Minister held the coal portfolio, we expect a serious reply from the Prime Minister," BJP Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters after the meeting.

On UP government's decision to stop VHP from holding a procession, he said since the saints had a right to follow their religion, the decision to stop their proposed yatra was against Constitutional rights.

On the National Food Security Bill, Prasad said while the BJP supports the measure in principle, it would like a discussion on the various amendments moved by it.

The BJP, he said, would raise the issue in Parliament.

On the issue of reported move to name TDP members for raising Telangana issue in the House, BJP General Secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy said all members had to raise the issues close to their heart. "It is the duty of the Speaker to talk to them and convince them. How can we ask them not to raise the issue they they think is important," he said.

Senior party leader M Venkaiah Naidu said advertisements given out by various ministries in newspapers today using public money were against the policy of the Centre to reduce wasteful expenditure.

"The government had been following austerity measures. While on one hand the budgets of various key ministries have been slashed by 10 to 15 per cent, ministries today gave out advertisements using public money...this issue came up for discussion in the meeting today," Naidu said.