NEW DELHI, May 8: After the Supreme Court’s scathing criticism of the CBI in connection with the probe into alleged irregularities in 2006-09 coal blocks allocation, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj today demanded that Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and Attorney General G E Vahanvati resign immediately.
“ASG blamed Attorney General. Now Attorney General blames Law Minister. The fact is that all three of them have misconducted themselves,” Ms Swaraj tweeted.
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said Haren Raval had resigned as the Additional Solicitor General.
“ASG has resigned. Attorney General and Law Minister should also resign forthwith,” she added.
The BJP has been demanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation and removal of the Law Minister for ‘interference’ in CBI’s coal scam probe.
Amid the deadlock, the Budget Session of Parliament ended two days ahead of schedule.
The Opposition had disrupted proceedings demanding the resignations of the Prime Minister, the Law Minister and Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.
Mounting another scathing attack on the Congress-led UPA government in the alleged Coalgate scam, the Supreme Court this afternoon again came down heavily on the Centre and described the CBI as a “caged parrot with many masters”.
The apex court also expressed concern over political interference in CBI investigation in coalgate scam.
The court also expressed the hope that government shall legislate to make the agency independent or else the court will step in.
Mr Vahanvati defended his conduct in the case and said, “I did not see the final status report and I never summoned CBI director to my office.”
CBI Director Ranjit Sinha in his affidavit filed on May 6 had stated that the draft status report submitted in the court on March 8 was seen and vetted by the Law Minister, the PMO, the Attorney General and the Coal Ministry officials. (UNI)
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