Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizers and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Hansraj Ahir on Wednesday said it is extremely unfortunate for the nation that former prime minister Manmohan Singh has been summoned in connection with the coal blocks allocation scam.
"This is unfortunate for the nation that a former prime minister has been summoned. But this is the law of the land and I am happy that it has been applied to everyone," said Ahir, who is the whistleblower in the coal scam.
The BJP MP from Chandrapur, however, expressed his delight with the CBI probe into the scam.
"The nation's property should go to the nation, I am very happy this inquiry is happening," he said.
"Action against everyone should be taken," he added while asserting that the summons have been issued by the highest authority.
Earlier in the day, a special CBI court summoned former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former coal secretary P C Parakh, Aditya Birla Group chairman K M Birla and three others in connection with the coal blocks allocation scam.
The court has summoned them on April 8 for offences of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and under provisions of prevention of corruption act.