BATED PRIME MINISTER. …….DATED PRESS
May 25, 2010
New Delhi: At last Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held his first formal date with press on Indian soil as prime minister after couple of naxalite incidents and one devastating accident. Here is what P.M. tweeted to our correspondent as off the record statement on various questions put to him.
On inflation and economy: The PM promises that inflation will be contained by Christmas this year as a Christmas gift to Sonia Gandhi. “It’s not fair to say we have a weakened economy. There has been a crisis for the past 1.5 years, mostly due to drought and inflation. Yet we are able to come up with couple big scams worth thousands of crores and it clearly indicates that economy is growing as there is provision for big scams and I expect the economy will grow by 8.5%.in this fiscal with couple of more scams”
On Raja and corruption: The PM admits corruption is a problem but said Minister Raja has followed the guidelines and policy laid by the NDA government during the allotment of 2G license in 2008 and hence if Raja is involved in corruption then NDA government is to be blamed for it. After seeing the success of open auction of 3G spectrum even P.M. is thinking of auctioning the ministries during the next cabinet reshuffle in order fetch some amount to the party also.
On Pakistan: The PM insists on reducing the ‘trust deficit’ with the neighboring country as the way forward and in order to achieve this he is first reducing the ‘trust deficit’ with captured terrorists in India by delaying their execution.
On dissent: The PM admits differences of opinions within the Cabinet. He said “It is healthy if ministers express their differences freely thru single media instead of one using tweeter and another one using his blog and remaining people using different electronic media”. According to him it is different media centers which are creating difference of opinion within the cabinet.
On Rahul Gandhi: The PM says Rahul Gandhi is qualified enough to be a good Prime minister and he admitted that Rahul Gandhi is as good as prime minister only he is just acting prime minister and it is his mother who calls shots on his behalf.
On relations with Sonia: “There is no mistrust between Sonia and me. We all are working under one congress trust. There is no gap in thinking as she does thinking on my behalf also”.
On his wife and Sonia: On whose advice is more suitable to him – between Sonia Gandhi and his wife Gursharan Kaur – he said both their suggestions play important roles in his life. “I am privileged to get constant advice from both Sonia Gandhi and my wife. Both of them deal with different subjects. One guides me in running the family and other orders me in running the country”
On his authority in the party: The party is not undermining me, I get opportunity to speak to you once in a year and I am like old great grand father in the party and whatever every one does they bring it to my notice. If they don’t then media does it, says the PM.
On tragedies: Manmohan Singh takes the final responsibility for the Dantewada massacre and the Mangalore air crash and is ready to resign any time when Sonia asks.
On Telangana: Commenting on demands for new states, the PM says the proposal for Telangana is being studied by a committee and also there are many demands of new states in the country and he would like to announce all at same.
On misuse of the CBI: Singh says the CBI is an autonomous body governed by congress and his government does not interfere in its functioning.
On IPL: Singh says the Finance Minister is probing the IPL-3 scandal and that appropriate action will be taken once they study the replay of IPL-3 along with 3rd and 4th umpires.
On retirement: he says he is not yet ready for the retirement and will to do so once Sonia asks him to take volunteer retirement to make a way for Rahul Gandhi.
Writing, playing chess and painting are my passions.
