Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday rejected demands for his resignation as well as that of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar on the issue of alleged interference in the preparation of the CBI status report in the coal scam.

He also declined to respond to allegations that he used the Law Minister as a shield to “safeguard” himself. Speaking to reporters at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, he dismissed the opposition demand for his resignation on the coal blocks allocation scam, saying this was not the first time they were making such a demand.

“This is not the first time in the last nine years, how many times… (they have demanded the resignation). But I would like to appeal to the opposition that they should let Parliament function,” he said, when asked about the opposition demand for his resignation.

He also appealed the opposition to let Parliament function and discuss all the issues there. “By not allowing Parliament to function, we are making mockery of our system of democracy. The whole world is laughing at us. Whatever the issues, these can be debated, discussed and decisions arrived at through proper dialogue at Parliament,” he said.

When asked whether he would ask for Kumar’s resignation, the Prime Minister said, “There is no question of the Law Minister resigning. The matter is now in the court and it is sub-judice. It is not proper for me to do anything. But there is no question of the Law Minister resigning.”

The demand for Kumar’s resignation mounted after the CBI told the Supreme Court on Friday that the status report on the coal block allocations was shared with the political executive and Joint Secretary-level officers in the PMO and Coal Ministry.

On BJP’s charge that he was using the Law Minister as a shield to “safeguard” himself in the coal-gate probe, Singh said, “I would not like to comment on this subject. It is a matter which is now before the court.”