Paris: Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the previous government of "giving away" coal mines as easily as one would give a pen, a handkerchief or even a piece of paper. And his government through the auctioning of just 20 of the 204 coal mines had got Rs.2 lakh crore.

Addressing a civic reception by the Indian diaspora, Modi said that "204 coal mines were just given away like, "come and take my pen, take this hanky, this piece of paper" but even while giving a pen you will think twice, but the 204 coal mines were just given away", he alleged.