New Delhi: Congress on Wednesday downplayed Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai`s statement that the credibility of government is at its lowest since Independence, the quality of governance is below par and decision making is a casualty. Answering questions at the AICC briefing, party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi recalled that the CAG was speaking at a memorial lecture in a democratic country. "Everybody is entitled to air his views. There is no doubt that constitutional authority has to exercise requisite restraint .....," he said. Secondly, it is clear that no constitutional authority is entitled to express any view on policy making or the merits of the policy except that they can express their view which will be entirely treated as their personal view, he said. Delivering the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial Lecture at the National Police Academy in Hyderabad, Rai had observed, "Governance is at its lowest ebb. The morale of civil servants is low. The situation is too deleterious for the nation. There is too much at stake for too many in such a situation."
He had said, "It`s a strong statement but it is a harsh reality."
PTI