Opposition demands Law Minister's resignation, CBI autonomy

Amid sharp criticism over the Supreme Court's critical observation about the government's interference in a CBI probe of the coal block allocation scam, the opposition parties on Thursday lambasted the government and demanded the resignation of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar. BJP spokesperson Balbir Punj called for strengthening the CBI and giving it an autonomous status to rid off political interventions. The Congress is struggling to put up a brave face as two of its Union ministers Ashwani Kumar and Pawan Kumar Bansal are on tenterhooks. While Kumar is keenly watching the Supreme Court, Bansal is tracking the CBI as calls for their resignations grew louder.