Opposition mounts all out attack on government over CAG report

As expected, the opposition, armed with three highly damaging reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), tabled on Friday, is giving a torrid time to the ruling Congress-led United Progressive Alliance this week.

Of the three reports, it was the one pertaining to the allocation of coal blocks for captive mining by private players during 2004-09 - when the coal ministry was for a substantial period directly under prime minister Manmohan Singh's charge - was expected to draw most blood.

And spirited opposition today did not disappoint, as it forced the parliament to adjourn till 2 pm over the issue of coal block allocation with members making a vociferous demand for resignation of prime minister Manmohan Singh.

Later in the afternoon, with the BJP continuing to press for the resignation of the prime minister and the government refusing to relent, both houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day.

Amid the din, minister of state in the PMO V Narayanasamy called on the opposition members to allow the House to run but with the opposition members adamant, Kumar adjourned the proceedings till noon.

In the Rajya Sabha, BJP-led NDA members were on their feet demanding the resignation of the prime minister, "Istifa do, istifa do, Pradhan Mantri istifa do (prime minister resign)," they chanted.