Raja gone, BJP targets PM for 'presiding over scams'

NEW DELHI: BJP has sharpened its offensive against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and alleged that he has been “presiding” over scams.

"The prime minister is guilty of omission if not commission...even that image of cleanliness should not include whitewashing of all scams he has presided over," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters here.

So far the prime minister was not in the line of Opposition fire over the 2G spectrum controversy. However, BJP has now pointed fingers at the prime minister for inaction in CWG and Adarsh housing ‘scams’.

BJP has been demanding that Mr Singh break his silence on 2G spectrum in the wake of former telecom minister A Raja’s claim that the decisions on it were taken in consultation with the prime minister.

To a question if Mr Singh should resign, Mr Javadekar was evasive: "I think the prime minister is responsible and owes an explanation. We want a JPC which will go into the details of all three scams.” Though BJP is demanding a JPC probe into all three issues — 2G spectrum, CWG and Adarsh housing — it has left it to the government to work out modalities of whether this would require more than one JPC.

Criticising the prime minister, Mr Javadekar said it was his responsibility to ensure transparency and not allow DMK to “arm-twist” him.

“The prime minister allowed himself to be arm-twisted. So it is responsibility of PM. The allies can suggest anything. But it is duty of the leadership to see the game and to ensure that transparent processes are in place. So it is the duty of the prime minister,” he said.