I accept my responsibility: PM on Thomas as CVC (Lead)

March 4th, 2011 - 7:49 pm ICT by IANS  

Manmohan Singh Jammu, March 4 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday broke his silence on the controversy over appointment of P.J. Thomas as chief vigilance commissioner, saying he accepts his “reponsibility” and respects the Supreme Court verdict quashing the order.

“I accept my responsibility,” Manmohan Singh told reporters here.

The prime minister was replying to a question on whether he had been misled on the issue or was it related to the “compulsions of coalition” he had spoken of during his interaction with electronic media editors in New Delhi recently.

Singh said the issue was not related to coalition compulsions. “I have said that I respect the Supreme Court judgment and I accept the responsibility.”

Thomas’ appointment was termed illegal by the Supreme Court Thursday. Singh was part of a three-member panel which selected him to the post.

On Pakistan and its internal situation, Singh said: “We hope that the situation in Pakistan normalises. I hate to comment on the internal affairs of Pakistan.”

Earlier this week, Pakistani minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian, was shot dead in Islamabad for his opposition to a controversial blasphemy law.

On the talks with separatists in Kashmir, he said: “We hope that separatists will join talks, the Hurriyat (Conference) has had two rounds of talks with me and I do hope that they would again talk.

“No one has the power to veto talks,” the prime minister said.

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