Comment Pieces

Poll Analysis | What Should PM's Response be to Coalgate?

Posted on September 03, 2012

Parliamentary monsoon session enters its final week with hardly any business being executed. Thanks to our opposition parties for not allowing the Parliament to function over the issue of coal block allocation. Sushma Swaraj, the Leader of Opposition of Lok Sabha, agreed for a discussion on coal scam provided the government scraps all 142 coal block allocations followed by a judicial probe. What should be the response of the Prime Minister? 

“What should PM’s response be to Coalgate?” was posed to our readers. People across the country have responded and posted their views on our website.

The poll results show a majority of 71 per cent of voters that favour PM’s resignation by taking the moral responsibility. A respondent commented, “The least that PM can and should do is to resign and regain the respect of the nation.” Another 19 per cent of the poll result favour summoning an all-party meet to discuss the matter. A respondent in this regard adds, “There has to be a full-fledged debate on the floor of the House, even if it means extending the Monsoon Session. Rather than adjourning parliamentary sessions, UPA and BJP as responsible national parties should discuss the issue.”

Another 9 per cent of voters favour that PM should defend his stand in Parliament. A respondent is of the opinion that PM’s silence, in similar instances, could be perceived as his move to protect the guilty. “In Coalgate, he personally challenged to justify all his actions. He should obviously prove this and for this, he should find the right and acceptable way as he wants to retain his chair also,” advises a respondent.

Remaining 1 per cent of people believe that PM should maintain status-quo as it may worsen the political situation for the government.

UPA government is stained with scams—2G spectrum, Adarsh Housing scam, Common Wealth Game scam and now, the biggest scam in Indian political history, Coalgate . If our respectable PM is honest, he should assert his ground and prove his integrity. “I don't ask PM to resign, but prove to everyone that he is not involved in Coalgate scam. He should punish the culprits, regardless of who they are”, opines a respondent.