KOLKATA: Assailing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for leading the ”most corrupt government since Independence”, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat on Sunday demanded that the Prime Minister take responsibility of the series of scams that took place in high places.
”There was corruption during the time of Rajiv Gandhi or the NDA. But the corruption level during the rule of the UPA-11 government has surpassed all. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is leading the most corrupt government since Independence. He is presiding over a team of pilferers and pickpockets,” he told a press conference after the party’s politburo and Central Committee meetings.
”The role of the Prime Minister in many matters is questionable. He is an honourable man. But he is holding a high office and things happened under his watch. We want him to own the responsibility,” Mr Karat said.
He said his party had made the Prime Minister aware at least on six occasions by sending letters about the irregularities in 2G licence allocation. The first letter was written by CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechuri in November, 2008, but no remedial action was taken.
Replying a question whether the CPI(M) was asking the integrity of the Prime Minister and would demand his resignation, Mr Karat said, ”It is not the question of being honest or dishonest.
He is presiding over a team of pilferers and pick pockets. Everything happened under his watch. When you are holding a high office, you have to take the responsibility.”(UNI)