‘Outraged’ Sonia Gandhi rallies behind Manmohan Singh, says he will be vindicated in coal scam
New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi with other top party leaders marched to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence on Thursday in a show of support, a day after he was summoned as an accused by a special court in the coal scam.
Sending a strong message to the Opposition, Gandhi said, "Dr Manmohan Singh is a man of intergrity. We will fight this legally. I am sure he (Manmohan Singh) will be vindicated."
Read: Congress workers stop trains across UP to protest summons to ex-PM Manmohan Singh
Singh said he was more than please and grateful with the gesture.
"The Congress party, Sonia ji and all members of the working committee and senior leaders have come to my residence, expressed solidarity with me and that we will fight this case to the best of our ability," he said.
Read: Didn’t meet Kumar Mangalam Birla, says PC Parakh
Earlier on Wednesday, a special CBI court summoned Singh in the coal scam, a significant development that is likely to have a cascading effect on the country’s political situation.
Singh had expressed confidence that he will prove his innocence in a fair trial. "Of course, I am upset but this is part of life. 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.
The case pertains to the allocation of Talabira II coal block (in Orissa) to Hindalco in 2005 and involves industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, who, along with former coal secretary P.C. Parakh, have also been summoned as accused.
Read: Timeline of coal block allocation case
The court observed that the former PM was “roped” into a criminal conspiracy to “accommodate” a major private company in coal block allocation. Dr Singh held the coal portfolio in 2005.
Special CBI judge Bharat Parashar in his order clarified that he was fully conscious of the observations made by him as the then minister of coal was none else but the then Prime Minister. “It will not be wrong if I say that while coming to such a conclusion about prima facie involvement of the then Prime Minister in the present matter this court had to act with a heavy conscience and with full realisation the present order or the observations/conclusions being made here will have over the morale of the country as a whole,” he said.
