Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday met editors of several Indian newspapers as part of his new media outreach strategy.
Dismissing talk that he is a "lame duck" Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh said he has been entrusted with the job by the Congress party from which he had not heard "any contrary view."
Terming the perception that his government had gone "comatose" and was "lame duck" as clever propaganda of the Opposition "to which some sections of the media had lent ear", Singh asserted that "truth will prevail" and his performance will speak.
Singh spoke of "maximum possible cooperation" that he was getting from Congress President Sonia Gandhi whom he met one-on- one every week. He had never felt that she was an "obstacle".
"In fact, the Congress high command has always been most supportive, particularly Mrs. Gandhi. I have got maximum cooperation from Sonia Gandhi who has done a superb job as Congress president," he said.
As for the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill, he said it was essential and desirable. The country needed a strong Lokpal although it is not not a "panacea" for all ills.
He told the editors that he would try to find a way on the Lokpal issue and work for a national consensus, and the government would reach out to the civil society but no group can insist that their views "A to Z" are the last word.
As for bringing the office of the Prime Minister under the purview of the Lokpal, he said that he has no hesitation in bringing himself under it.
"I have no hesitation in bringing myself under the purview of Lokpal but many of my Cabinet colleagues feel that bringing the institution of Prime Minister under it will create instability," he said.
"We will find a way out on Lokpal and try for a consensus," he added.
Singh also said that has no objection to Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi succeeding him as Prime Minister, but said no such discussions were currently taking place within the ruling party.
"Personally, if you ask me, the general proposition that younger people should take over, I think, is the right sentiment. Whenever the party makes up its mind I will be very happy to step down, but so long as I am here, I have a job to do," the Prime Minister said.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-06-29 20:26:58 FeedbackPrintRSS
NEW DELHI, June 29 (Xinhua)
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