Not afraid of JPC, dead serious about bringing wrongdoers to book: Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today made it clear that he is not afraid of facing the Joint Parliamentary Committee probe in the 2G scam as demanded by the Opposition, and added that he never thought of quitting over the issue.

A. Raja was forced to resign from the Union Cabinet last year after the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) faulted him for undervaluing spectrum to favour companies who were largely ineligible for 2G spectrum, and added that the government had probably lost Rs.1.76 lakh crore in estimated revenue.

Dr. Singh maintained that as Prime Miniater his conduct must be like Caesar’s wife - above suspicion, and we was ready to appear before any committee, JPC or any other.

He said he had never wanted to resign and that he would steer the course since the UPA government still had many goals to achieve.

Meeting editors ahead of the budget session of parliament at his official 7 Race Course residence on Wednesday morning, the Prime Minister said the government is “dead serious” in bringing to book all wrongdoers.

Lauding media’s role, Dr. Singh told editors: “Media had played a very important role in drawing the country’s attention to issues requiring corrective action. The media have drawn the country’s attention to some aberrations in allocation of 2G spectrum, the Commonwealth Games and more recently some developments in the space organisation and Adarsh society affairs.”

Referring to the various scams that have been dominating headlines, he said, “I wish to assure the country as a whole our government is dead serious to bring to book all the wrongdoers regardless of their position in 2G spectrum, CWG, ISRO and Adarsh scams.”

He added that the government was committed to rule of law, saying, “We should not do any thing to shake the self confidence of the people.” (ANI)