Coal block allocations: Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi split on stir?

New Delhi: Former Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal is taking his fight against the coal allocation scam beyond the capital. Kejriwal has now asked his supporters to join his organisation India Against Corruption to protest outside the residences of the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in their respective states.

Alleging that the Congress and the BJP were hand-in-glove on the coal block allocation issue, the erstwhile Team Anna member on Friday announced gherao of the residences of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and BJP chief Nitin Gadkari on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Kiran Bedi has expressed apprehension over targeting all parties on the coal block allocations. Bedi tweeted on Saturday morning, "I fully support Arvind's call for Jantar Mantar rally. While I feel we need to focus on party in power, I respect his and others view to cover all!"

Bedi also said that closing metro stations to make it inconvenient for people to come to Jantar Mantar rally was 'completely undemocratic'.

This protest will take place simultaneously on Sunday when Kejriwal will be leading a rally from Jantar Mantar to the residences of both Manmohan and Gadkari.

"Congress and BJP have got together to loot Rs 1.86 lakh crore in coal scam. (There will be) gherao of Prime Minister's and Nitin Gadkari's residences. Let us assemble at Jantar Mantar on August 26 (at) 10 AM," Kejriwal had tweeted.

In view of the protests, the Delhi Traffic Police will be shutting down six metro stations on Sunday from 8 am to 6 pm. This will be the first rally led by Kejriwal after the break up of Team Anna.

The announcement came as a CAG report said that the exchequer lost around Rs 1.86 lakh crore due to coal bloc allocation without competitive bidding during 2005-09.

Earlier, the erstwhile Team Anna had decided to hold the first meeting of preparatory committee this Sunday which will chalk out the ways for formation of a political party.

However, now this meeting is likely to take place in the first week of September as they are yet to finalise the names. Team Anna had earlier this month decided to take a political plunge.

Last week, the activists had threatened to file a PIL in court and carry out a referendum to "expose" the UPA on coal block allocations if the government does not constitute a special team to probe allegations.

"We have raised it on May 25. All our allegations have come true now. All parties are involved in it since screening committees have representatives of states also.

"We demand cancellation of allotments of coal blocks. Lodge FIR, constitute an SIT, failing which we will file PIL in court and carry out referendum on the issue to expose the government," Kejriwal had said.

With Additional Inputs from PTI

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