New Delhi:
Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati both reportedly turned down a BJP invitation to attend a meeting of Opposition parties today to discuss strategy on the coal allocation issue. Sources, though, have told NDTV that only BJP leaders met this morning with none of its allies present there.
Mr Yadav and Ms Mayawati's refusal will be a shot in the arm for the Congress; the BJP seems determined to hunker down for the long haul and disrupt Parliament through much of the Monsoon Session if its demands are not met.
The main Opposition party has said an emphatic no to the Prime Minister's offer for a statement on what is being called "Coal-gate"; it says nothing but the PM's resignation will do. It had reportedly convinced partner Janata Dal (United), which had earlier suggested that the matter be debated in Parliament. But now, the JD(U) seems to have gone back to its old position with another ally, the Akali Dal, also favouring a statement by the Prime Minister.
Mulayam Singh Yadav's party, the SP has, like most parties, demanded an explanation from the government over the controversial allocation of coal blocks that the government's auditor says has caused a loss of Rs. 1.86 lakh crore to the national exchequer. But Mr Yadav, who has bailed out the Congress on numerous occasions in Parliament over crucial issues, decided not to embarrass the latter by aligning with the BJP over Coal-gate. The BSP, led by Mayawati, too didn't oblige the BJP.
The Prime Minister was supposed to make a statement on the issue today on the floor of both Houses. But Parliament, which has seen disruptions over the last four working days, was adjourned again
Mr Yadav and Ms Mayawati's refusal will be a shot in the arm for the Congress; the BJP seems determined to hunker down for the long haul and disrupt Parliament through much of the Monsoon Session if its demands are not met.
The main Opposition party has said an emphatic no to the Prime Minister's offer for a statement on what is being called "Coal-gate"; it says nothing but the PM's resignation will do. It had reportedly convinced partner Janata Dal (United), which had earlier suggested that the matter be debated in Parliament. But now, the JD(U) seems to have gone back to its old position with another ally, the Akali Dal, also favouring a statement by the Prime Minister.
Mulayam Singh Yadav's party, the SP has, like most parties, demanded an explanation from the government over the controversial allocation of coal blocks that the government's auditor says has caused a loss of Rs. 1.86 lakh crore to the national exchequer. But Mr Yadav, who has bailed out the Congress on numerous occasions in Parliament over crucial issues, decided not to embarrass the latter by aligning with the BJP over Coal-gate. The BSP, led by Mayawati, too didn't oblige the BJP.
The Prime Minister was supposed to make a statement on the issue today on the floor of both Houses. But Parliament, which has seen disruptions over the last four working days, was adjourned again
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