Coal-gate in Lok Sabha: 'Trying my best to run the House'

Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar on Thursday said that she is trying her best to run the house, as the Bharatiya Janata Party-led opposition stalled the proceedings on alleged irregularities in allocation of coal blocks.

"I am trying my best to run the house. But there seems to be a stalemate. Let's see when we get over it," she told mediapersons outside the Parliament.

Kumar further said she wanted the all-party meeting to take place at the earliest so that the Parliament functions without any disruption.

"I want the meeting to take place as soon as possible," she said.

Both the houses of Parliament have been adjourned over the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on coal block allocations.

The UPA government has rejected the opposition demand for prime minister's resignation, saying it is ready for discussion in Parliament on the CAG report on coal block allocation.

Union Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid, however, expressed hope that the opposition will join in ensuring proper functioning of Parliament.

"We want to give a reply to both the opposition and the country. We have nothing to hide. We are making all efforts to persuade opposition to come for discussion," he said.

Khurshid termed as 'unfortunate' the continuous disruption of Parliament where lawmakers come "every morning with hope, expectations and aspirations of the people of our country".

The BJP has held the prime minister, who then held direct charge of the coal ministry, responsible for what has been estimated as loss of Rs 1.86 lakh crore by the CAG in coal block allocation and demanded his resignation.