New Delhi:
"My conscience is quite clear. (But) it is quite possible that I may have been soft." This is what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said today while replying to questions on corruption, including 2G spectrum allocation controversy over which he had been assured by the then Telecom Minister A Raja that "transparency, fairness and objectivity" would be observed.
"If a Cabinet colleague gives that sort of assurance, I cannot sit on judgement. Only later, some people came to CVC and gave some material which was then passed on to CBI," Singh said during an interaction with a group of editors here. (
Transcript of PM's Q&A session with Editors)
It was pointed out to Singh that there was a feeling that he allowed such things to happen and therefore got the blame although his personal integrity is unquestioned.
He responded, "If a Cabinet colleague tells me that he will scrupulously abide by norms and ethics of transparency, I will not conduct a post-mortem. I am not an expert on telecom."
Asked whether he should have been more assertive with coalition partners, the Prime Minister said "in hindsight 'yes' and also 'no'.
He said, "Some of the things that had happened without our getting full picture."
When referred to the perception that instead of moving rapidly in dealing with corruption and bringing about reforms, the government has conceded space to civil society, Dr Singh said, "We are doing everything. There are only 24 hours in a day. I spend 18 hours a day at work without any holiday. I am not affected by all this."
Giving details about developments surrounding the 2G spectrum allocation, the Prime Minister said he had himself written to Raja saying that auction route should be considered.
Raja wrote back saying his letter was considered by TRAI which came to the conclusion and which was endorsed by the Telecom Commission, that TRAI is against auction and was against any other step that would hurt competition.
It was pointed out to him that the controversy had been highlighted by newspapers, to which Singh said, "If I were to look at newspapers everyday, quite frankly, I will hardly be able to do any work."
He said there are people on both sides who were writing to him as there are intense rivalries in these matters which have impact on the ability to objectively examine pros and cons.