Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday circumvented all controversial domestic political issues, including those that surround Telecom Minister A Raja, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan's alleged role in the Adarsh Society scam, and the Commonwealth Games fiasco, but assured that he would look into the matter once he returns to India and then make any meaningful comment on it.
The prime minister was addressing the media on board Air India One on his way back to New Delhi from Hanoi, Vietnam, where he attended the India-ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit, besides holding bilateral meetings with China, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and Australia.
The prime minister was noncommittal and appeared slightly hassled at the barrage of questions that came his way with mediapersons eager to know his views on events that are currently dominating debate among the public.
When asked if A Raja would be asked to step down from the Cabinet after having been slammed by the apex court over his alleged involvement in the Rs 60,000-crore 2G spectrum allocation scam, the prime minister stated: "I have not seen what the Supreme Court has said. I will look into it once I reach home. Since the matter is sub judice I will not comment on it."
The Supreme Court on Friday had questioned Raja's continuance as the nation's telecom minister and severely criticised the Central Bureau of Investigation for the slow pace of investigation in the matter.
"I am not familiar with the issue and can comment on it once I get back home and look into it," he said to a query on what action, if any, would the Congress leadership would take against the Maharashtra chief minister for alleged role in the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam.
The prime minister's silence on these matters might have earned a brief reprieve for Raja and Chavan, even as a beleaguered Congress leadership decides on the next course of action. Meanwhile, commenting on a possible Cabinet reshuffle, he said: "When it happens you will come to know of it."
When asked if he should have intervened earlier than he did to set right the Commonwealth Games mess, Dr Singh said that not all things have to be handled by the prime minister. For that there are other institutions, departments, officials, etc who are entrusted with the work, Dr Singh said.
Protectionism is not the solution to trade problems or balance of trade problems, the prime minister added.
India is integrating its economy with global economy, but while doing so it also exposes itself to global risks and thus the country is moving at a measured pace, the prime minister said.
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