PM 2LST

In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister referred to
the media expose of various scams including the Commonwealth
Games, ISRO deal, Adarsh housing affairs but asked the media
not to give an image that India was a scam-driven country and
nothing good was happening.
He said that such an image would weaken the
self-confidence of the people and it would not be in the
interest of the country.
"I wish to assure the country as a whole that our
government is dead serious about bringing to book all
wrongdoers regardless of the position they occupy," he said.
To a question what was his biggest regret in UPA-II,
Singh said that "these irregularities have happened. They
should not have happened. I am not very happy about these
developments".
He virtually disagreed with the CAG calculations on the
loss figure in the 2G scam saying the CAG itself had called it
presumptive.
There are various methods of computing the figures and
went on to question whether the Rs 80,000 crore being spent on
foodgrain subsidy, Rs 60,000 crore on fertilisers and subsidy
on kerosene could be called as loss.
He was replying to a question whether he agreed with
Indian Telecom minister Kapil Sibal's description of zero loss
in the 2G scam.
To a question on Home Minister P Chidambaram's comments
on governance deficit, he admitted, "obviously, some events
have brought out the weaknesses in governance and processes, I
think we need to improve the quality of governance. But that
does not divide me and other members of the government."
He rejected a questioner's suggestion that his
government was facing double-incumbency of attacks from the
opposition and within the party.
"I do not get that impression (party not backing him).
In a democracy, there are views and discussions and when
decisions are taken, our party stands united in support of the
government.
"I would like a cohesive party to support the government
but I am not saying it is not happening," he said. (MORE) PTI