Congress leaders march towards Manmohan Singh’s residence to show solidarity

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Mar 12, 2015: The Congress is rallying behind former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who has been summoned as accused in a coal blocks allocation case.

 

Here are the live updates:

Congress leaders are now marching towards Manmohan Singh’s residence from AICC headquarters to show solidarity with the former PM. Leading the march is Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
   
Congress sources add party leaders will march to Dr Singh’s residence after the CWC meet to show solidarity with the former PM.
   
Manmohan Singh will not attend the CWC meet, say Congress sources.
  
 A day after a court summoned former prime minister Manmohan Singh as accused in a coal blocks allocation scam, the Congress is going in a huddle to chalk out its strategy.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has convened a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and party MPs at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters at 9:30 am today.

The Congress meet is expected to deliberate on the strategy to be adopted to defend Manmohan Singh inside and outside the court.

On Wednesday, a special court here summoned Manmohan Singh, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and former coal secretary PC Parakh in a coal block allocation case, terming it a "criminal conspiracy" with the objective to "do an illegal act".

Special Judge Bharat Parashar, after taking cognizance of the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) final report in the case, also summoned officials Shubendu Amitabh and D Bhattacharya of Birla-owned Hindalco on April 8.

Manmohan Singh, also the then coal minister, despite not being named as an accused by the CBI in the original first information report (FIR), was summoned by the court for the alleged offences under criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

All the six accused have been summoned as accused in a case related to allocation of the Talabira II coal block in Odisha to Hindalco in 2005.

Manmohan Singh, who headed the United Progressive Alliance government for 10 years, said he was "upset" but was sure that "truth will prevail".

"Of course, I am upset but this is part of life. I have respect for the judicial process. I have stated my position before the CBI. I have issued statements also justifying what we did," he told reporters.

"I have always said I am open for legal scrutiny. I am sure the truth will prevail and I will get a chance to put forward my case with all the facts," he said further, adding that he will discuss with his legal counsel on contesting the summons.

The court summons triggered a flurry of reactions with the Congress coming out in strong defence of Manmohan Singh.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the party was confident that examination of full facts will establish fairness and transparency in the allocation.

Congress leader Kapil Sibal said he was "saddened" at Manmohan Singh being summoned by a court.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the former prime minister was paying for the "sins" of the Congress party.

(With agency inputs)