Kolkata: The CPI(M) on Sunday demanded that
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh own up responsibility for the
corruption scandals plaguing his government including on 2G
and KG basin issues, but stopped short of asking for his
resignation.
"The role of Prime Minister in the scandals involving
the 2G spectrum distribution and KG basin is questionable. He
must own up the responsibility," CPI-M general secretary
Prakash Karat told reporters at the end of the two-day party
central committee meeting here.
On why he was not asking for Singh`s resignation, Karat
said, "The story is not over. It is still unfolding, wait and
see."
He said the argument that somebody is honest does not
absolve him of the responsibility for what his Cabinet does.
"Irrespective of who is honest or who has integrity
something is happening under your watch and when all this is
happening, what is your responsibility? The issue is not
whether I am honest or dishonest, but under me there is a team
of pilferers and pickpockets. So what is my responsibility in
this?" Karat said.
The senior CPI(M) leader claimed that in both the 2G and
KG basin issues, the Prime Minister was "fully aware" of the
developments, but did not stop the wrongdoings.
"We had written six letters to the Prime Minister about
wrongdoings in 2G spectrum allotment issue, but he did
not do anything," Karat alleged.
"There seems to be an exponential growth in corruption in
the UPA-II government," he said.
He said that the Left`s stated position was that the
Prime Minister should be brought under the Lokpal. "There is
no justification that prime minister will come under its
purview only after he retires."
"Everyday a new scandal is coming out, whether it is
2G, KG or CWG games," Karat said.
"The Delhi government has been indicted in the CAG report
and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has been named. It is a
practice that the person should resign if named and not hold
office till being absolved, but this has not happened in this
case," the CPI(M) leader said.
Demanding that all persons involved in the scams should be
brought to book, he said, "We are fortunate that the Supreme
Court intervened in the 2G case and due to this a former
central minister and others are in jail."
Taking on the BJP, he alleged that the Karnataka BJP
was involved in "loot of the country`s natural resources".
"In connection with the mining scam, BS Yeddyurappa
has resigned as chief minister of Karnataka, but that is
insufficient, all those involved in the scam should be
prosecuted," Karat said.
PTI
