New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS) The BJP Wednesday "welcomed" the questioning of former prime minister Manmohan Singh by the CBI in connection with alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal mines while he was in charge of the coal ministry.
"The then prime minister was also coal minister in the UPA-1 and most of the illegal allotments happened during his tenure as coal minister," BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said in a statement here.
"Coal-gate is arguably the largest scam of independent India and Congress government between 2004 and 2014 was manifestly India's most corrupt government ever," he said.
Rao also accused the UPA government for trying to stall investigations and shield the guilty.
"During the UPA tenure, every effort was made to stall investigations, shield prime minister Manmohan Singh and its political leadership who were the prime movers of the coal scam," he said.
Claiming that the BJP-led central government had nothing to do with Singh's questioning, he said that CBI was "totally independent" as it maintains an 'arms length' from all criminal investigations and allows all the investigating agencies to do their work credibly and "completely independently".
"CBI investigations have gathered pace in the last few months under the directions from the Supreme Court and CBI Special Court. This has become possible because of the totally independent functioning of the CBI under the present BJP-led government at the Centre," he said.
This was a huge welcome change in approach from the days of Congress-led government's subversion of all such institutions to hide all its misdeeds and to target its political rivals, the BJP leader added.
Meanwhile, Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu also said that the Centre had no role in Singh's questioning.
"The court had asked why there was no questioning. The government has nothing to do with it," he told reporters.
The Congress termed it as a legal procedure with its leader concerned cooperating with the authorities.
"It is totally unnecessary and pointless to politicise or sensationalise a pure legal process under a court order considering a closure report. I think it's much to be appreciated that like a responsible citizen he is fully willing to cooperate to answer those questions," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.
Weather Update Today: Rain warning, yellow alert issued in these 20 districts of UP, know the weather condition across the country
It is raining heavily in many states of the country. The Meteorological Department has issued an alert of heavy rain in many states even today. Today, rain is expected in the states of Jharkhand,
CSK and RCB bought these players in the IPL 2025 auction, see how both the teams look now
The patience for the IPL 2025 Mega Auction is now over. The mega auction is being held on 24 and 25 November in Jeddah city of Saudi Arabia. On the first day of this auction i.e. on 24 November, 72
Bengal Chunav 2021: Violence at many places in Bengal, after stoning convoy, Suvendu said - Jungle raj is going on in Bengal
Kolkata's Spread of sporadic violence has continued since early morning in the second phase of voting in Bengal. According to the latest information, the vehicles of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's
Pakistan's PM-ministers will not take salary: Shahbaz Sharif said- Pay the bills of electricity, water and gas yourself; silence on the mighty army
With foreign reserves (deposits) of only $ 3 billion, the last attempt to save Pakistan, which is on the verge of bankruptcy, has begun. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif made important announcements
Weather Update Today: Cold in the morning and evening increased in Delhi, and snowfall in the mountains; Know how the weather will be in your state today
These days a light pink cold is being felt in the morning in New Delhi. At the same time, the sun is still shining brightly during the day. On the other hand, pollution is also being seen in Delhi.
Clear Saturday ahead in Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) It was a pleasant Saturday morning in the national capital with the minimum temperature settling at 9.3 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season's average.The Met
Cyclone Montha: Red alert issued in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, cold intensifies in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh; these states will experience torrential rain.
The impact of Cyclone Montha is being felt along the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that Cyclone Montha, which formed in the
AAP ahead of BJP, Congress in Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) The AAP led in five seats and the BJP and the Congress in one seat each as officials Tuesday counted the votes polled in the 70-member Delhi assembly election.Aam Aadmi
Emergency: If 'Emergency' is not approved without cuts, Kangana Ranaut will go to court, says- how long will we remain afraid?
Kangana Ranaut is promoting her upcoming film 'Emergency'. Actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut often remains in the headlines due to her outspoken statements. The actress' film is facing a delay
Udaipur Violence: Student Devraj's last rites are performed under tight security, and tension prevails in Udaipur; police deployed
Devraj, a 10th-class student who was injured in a stabbing incident in Udaipur, Rajasthan, died on Monday after struggling between life and death for four days. Tension spread in the city after the
