Coal scam: BJP not interested in knowing the truth, says Azad

Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday slammed the BJP and its allies for stalling the monsoon session of Parliament over what he described as "presumptive allegation" on coalgate and said the opposition was not interested in "knowing the truth".

"The opposition was not interested in knowing the truth. They just wanted to carry on their agenda forward,knowing well that elections are going to take place in some states in the next two or three months", he charged while speaking to the press on the sidelines of a function here.

"It was more of an election agenda rather than knowing the truth. In the process we lost most of the precious month of the monsoon session. It is a loss of money, time and also loss to the entire country", Azad said.

On the allegations made against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said "entire country and globe knows how honest and just is the Prime Minister. Nothing will stick (on) the Prime Minister. He is one of the most honest leaders of the world".

He also termed as presumptive the charges over allocation of coal blocks.

Azad maintained that by keeping the issue alive, the BJP and its allies have helped the government to a "great extent." Congress has already demonstrated to the nation that the opposition was totally "unjust" to the ruling party, he said.