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Speaking to the country via a televised media interaction, his first since a host of scams have come to light over the past few months, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday gave an assurance that his government was “dead serious in bringing to book all wrongdoers.” But even as he repeated his commitment to punish the guilty, Dr. Singh refused to accept any personal responsibility for the policy decisions that led to the 2G spectrum and S-Band scams.
Pressed on whether he absolved himself completely, the Prime Minister blamed his coalition partners. “No one should doubt that I am conscious of my responsibilities. But I have some compulsions. One has to tolerate a great deal in coalition politics, or else go for elections every six months, which is also not the proper course to adopt.”
Later, he said: “I have never said I have never made a mistake…,” and then added, with a weak smile, “I am not as much of a culprit as I am being made out.”
The Prime Minister also used his hour-long interaction with editors of television channels to slam the Opposition and chide the media for creating the impression of a “scam-driven country,” something that was “weakening the self-confidence of the people” and spoiling the “image of India.”
“In reporting the affairs of our nation, we mustn't focus excessively on the negative features, important though it is that the government should deal with them,” he said.
Dr. Singh was, however, very clear that he was “not afraid of appearing before any committee, including a JPC [the proposed Joint Parliamentary Committee to examine the 2G spectrum scam].” Indeed, he stressed that there was a wrong impression that he had blocked an agreement on a JPC.
He added that he had also never felt like quitting even though things were not entirely the way he would have wished them to be. “I never felt like resigning because I have a job to do. The country voted our party to be the leader of the coalition, and we have a lot of unfinished business to accomplish...I will stay the course.”
While the scams the government had got engulfed in were his biggest regret, its biggest achievement was that it had ensured, despite a very unfavourable international economic environment, that the Indian economy's growth rhythm was not grossly affected, he said.
The news conference was intended to clear the air on the issue of corruption and present a strong and confident Prime Minister. But his answers on the scale of the 2G scam — in the light of Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal's controversial claim that there had been “zero loss” — suggested a continuing unwillingness to concede that there had been wrongdoing on a massive scale.
Keywords: Manmohan-editors interaction, S-band, Antrix-Devas deal, 2G scam, UPA government
The PM's chiding the media for reporting on the scams is akin to a ship's captain chiding people who tell him that his crew is punching holes in the hull. Mr. Prime Minister, forget what others are thinking about our country and concentrate on what the country is thinking about you, other politicians and the government. The ship is sinking and it would be wise to plug the leaks and throw out the crew instead of claiming that there is a lot of work left to do. What is more important than the safety of the country and her citizens?
Cant digest the 'coalition partners' stuff. After all Mr Singh, you are the prime minister of this country. Still this is true in case of Raja only. What about Kalmadi and former Maharshtra CM? they are Congressmen.
The PM has lost all claim to rule and the earlier he steps down, the better for everybody (including himself). If 'coalition dharma' means you can allow the loot of lakhs of Crores, I beg to differ. I feel the real problem is not 'Coalition Dharma' but undiluted lust to stay on in Power, come what may. So the Congress is (mis)using people with good image (like Mannohan Singh, Antony,etc.) to fool the public. It must be a major beneficiary of this loot. This is remiscent of what Mahatma Gandhi was turning out to be towards his end ( being a shield for the Congress to hide behind their rotten deeds). That way the PM is doing the greatest harm to the Nation and hence must quit.
Good comment from Prem. Only thing to add is Mr.Manmohan please don't blame your 'coalition partners' for ALL the wrongdoings, that is a bit too convenient!
The fact is that Prime Minister's seriousness is dead. Had he been dead serious as he says then Kalmadi party would not have been given sufficient time for manoeuvrings before the CBI raids. Raja would have been removed much before when even the media and opposition did not raise hue and cry. He is talking two opposite things in the same breath - one that he is dead serious and another that of coalition compulsions which means he has to chose between the kursi and bringing the culprit to book.
First of all our PM has lost his charm. He was worried. He was nervous. He could not read even the written notes properly. This is our impression. The TV Managers and reporters did not grill him as everyone public wanted them to do so. They did not even cross examine the PM properly by putting inconvenient questions as they used to do. One can expect NDTV and its Prannoy Roy can't come forward to perform this? We know how Govt has helped him in his difficult days! It is attrocius of the PM to compare the spectram scam to the very agricultural subsidy given to consumers and farmers. He says that coalition is responsible for the corruption of his Govt. He must then decide whether he wants to run the country with coalition or corruption? He has also to explain, that in as much as he refused to take T R Balu, ex Minister, into his UPA 2, why he could not exert the same pressure to Karunanidhi on A. Raja? When he found Raja corrupt, why he has taken so long time to relieve him from the cabinet? Is it also because of alliance compulsion? What about corruption in S Band , Adharsh and CVG ? There is no Karunanidhi or any alliance partner there! It is all full Congress affair This very much shows that he wants to remain as PM and stick on to the seat of power for 5 years by foul means or fair. His seat is important for him than good Governance. Let him face JPC for all the scams. That will be an acid test for him and other Congress leaders! On the whole, he has given a feeling that he need not have opened his mouth from the silence and rather kept mum.
As usual, Manmohan Singh spoke like an automaton. What sticks in my mind are his remarks about "compromise". UPA has been seen (again?) in a "compromising position".
It is regrettable that our prime minister is giving answers which can not heal our soaring wounds.Can Prime Minister explain that what it means by the high level growth and who is being benefited from it? High growth level does not mean prosperity of common man. High growth means more production and more production means more benefit to corporate world. There exists no part of this growth which give relief to common man. But scams also benefit the industrialists only and take more blood from poor man's body.
A MUST read - The Radia Papers - Raja, Tata, Ambani connection http://bit.ly/gJDsYL
And Indian democracy is "dead serious" about not electing a corrupt party back into the government!
The PM chided the media "for creating the impression of a "scam-driven country," something that was "weakening the self-confidence of the people" and spoiling the "image of India." No Prime Minister, not even Jawharlal Nehru, had enjoyed so much support from the media as Dr.Manmohan Singh has been receiving. Any enduring support a ruler can get will be only from his or her people who are satified and happy. Dr,Singh,it would seem, is yet to imbibe this vital fact!
This message from the prime minster of India is quite encouraging. He was the key person in bringing the economic evolution to India during year 1991 when he was finance minister for republic India. In this government I feel depressed to see my country being held with various scams mainly 2G Scam, Adarsh scam etc. It can be observed that prime minister cannot be blamed for every thing. In my personal view he is a gem of a person with no profit in his office. It can be figured that most of the scams where being done through ministries which are mainly coalition parties supportive to the central government. In his government there are many positive sign of economic growth and employment rate. I feel that opposition is just blaming the government. I feel that if the opposition and media blame the government alone. Then there may be a revolution in India against corruptions by youngsters. And whole political system must change.
If he is dead serious, he would have agreed to JPC on day -1. If he is dead serious, he would have removed Raja years back. If he is dead serious, he wouldn't have appointed Thomas as CVC. If he is dead serious, he would have stopped Sibal giving clean chit to Raja. If he is dead serious, he would have gone for a public auction for S-band. Since the answers for all above is no, he is not serious at all..thats why he should take responsibility and resign.
Mr. PM, is there any doubt that our contry is not a scam driven country? Have you guys left anything about it? The entire administration has failed and files do not move without money, and on top of that there are high scorers by the politicians.
One has to feel elated with the PM's statement. The question is, if he has the political gall to proceed himself in this direction? When he has a nest of people around him who have other ideas, the going could get very tough! But, if he could do a 'Nitish Kumar' for India, the India will be a better place before the international public and he would be rewarded by the people's support who are sick and tired of scams and daily corruptions in their life. We all have to wish him well.
Are we to believe that running a coalition government means looting the country left, right and centre? Dr. Singh seems to justify blatant corruption in return for leading a stable government. We Indians do not want such a government that follows the bad example of post-Soviet Russia in its scramble for privatization. The Congress-led government has misused the trust of the Indian people and has torn to tatters what the Indian state should stand for. No PR exercise by Dr. Singh or the Congress is going to change the story. If Dr. Singh has a honest nerve in his body, he should take moral responsibility for his failure as a prime minister, disclose how much money the Congress party and its ministers have anmassed in the whole process and bring back to the exchequer what is righfully the nation's wealth.
The govt which the PM says is dead serious in bringing to book all the wrongdoers to book, is as good as dead while these scams happen.
Mr Prime Minister, it is a not media creation. The 'scam driven country' is a creation of your ministers and others who are connected with government.
How many scandals by various ministers and other people involved must be exposed before one minister is either fired of punished? >Dr. M M Singh might be patient but I do not think Indian people are patient. International impression of India will not improve until government of India punishes a culprit of any crime.
If you are dead serious, give them death sentence on charges of treason, and remove Sharad Pawar from your GOM, he is the biggest swindler of money (remember Mr. Khairnar).
I am happy to see 'weakening the self-confidence of the people' but I think you have to replace People with Politician for we the people have already been in this stage even before all these scams. Now it's good that such scams are coming out and sure they will never get resolved and people will remember them like Bofors. We might hear them in text book for our kids. At present we need some assurance and action plan to handle them. Even JPC looks like political agenda for opposition.
The justification given by PM shows that he does not have any control on his corrupt Congress party. In real emergency, he cannot show any leadership skill and country will be in danger. Media need not try to defend him. The title of this news is not matching to the fact. The real problem is that in last 20 years, most of the media / news were just talking of only secularism and non-secularism and not focused on good governance and anti-corruption. Media also need to own this failure.
Make a contribution to the nation not to riches of Eeliance and Tata in the form of subsidy to these people. Think of inflation especially of oil,milk and food prices.
I watched the news conference in entirety and felt bad for Dr.Singh. I was really confused whether to blame him or not. He was really speaking the truth about coalition politics and the critical juncture that the country is in. Let's consider that he decides that he need not put up with the things that are going on as far as corruption goes and will quit.What will happen? Anarchy will assume. There is no other decent leader who can gain the support of all parties and run the country. After thinking about it this is what I realised.Everyone has drawbacks and Media is correct in bringing attention to the corruption.If not for the media it would never be able to have Raja in CBI.Dr.Manmohan should see media in a positive sense. That is, what he cannot do without confrontation, media is doing it for him. This gives him support to remove some people from the cabinet without affecting the coalition support. I think he is playing it out very smartly and using media to his advantage to make the coalition effective. This is really Machiavelli or Chanakaya philosophy. I think nobody understands this, but the media is his biggest friend in disguise and I think he understands it very well, even though he does not express it out in open. People don't understand his(Dr.Singh) worth right now. He is a very passive aggressive person and a true leader in a camflouge. India should be grateful for his service to the nation and you can really feel that people are rooting for him,reflective in the questions from Pranay Roy. Try to see the video if you get a chance.
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