New Delhi:
Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna has hit out at Team Anna for accusing him of wrongdoings during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. Mr Krishna today said that Justice Santosh Hegde's report had given him a clean chit and that he will reply to the allegations to the Prime Minister.
"Justice Santosh Hegde's report had given me a clean chit. It's improper for anyone to ask for another investigation. The motive is only to malign my 50 years of unblemished public life. I will reply in detail to the allegations made against me to the honourable PM, which will substantiate the position I am stating before you," Mr Krishna said today.
Team Anna had said that while Mr Krishna was Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004, iron-ore mines were given to private companies at throwaway prices.
After the charges were made, the External Affairs Minister had cautioned the Team Anna members that their actions would amount to over-reaching a judicial process. In a letter to Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal, hours after he demanded a Special Investigation Team to probe allegations of corruption against 15 ministers of the UPA government, Mr Krishna reminded that the matter referred to was sub-judice and the Supreme Court had put a stay on it. Sources close to Mr Krishna had said he would file a defamation case against Mr Kejriwal if there was no satisfactory reply.
Mr Krishna today hinted that he is willing to consider the legal route against the social activists.
"If anyone were to make personal allegations against me and my reputation, I reserve the right to react in manner which I think is fit and proper," he said.
Last week Team Anna had demanded a separate investigating agency to investigate cases related to corruption charges against 15 ministers, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the External Affairs Minister. The anti-graft group, which has threatened to launch an indefinite fast from July 25, has picked up portions of a draft CAG report to make charges against the prime minister when Coal Ministry was with him.