News

A fair trial will prove my innocence : Manmohan Singh

by IBNS 11 Mar 2015, 12:12 am

New Delhi, Mar 11(IBNS) Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has been summoned by a court as an accused in the coal allocation scam, said on Wednesday that a fair trial will establish his "total innocence".

His reaction came after he along with five e others were summoned  to appear on April 8 in connection with the allocation of a coal field in Odisha's Talabira block in 2005 to Hindalco. Singh was in charge of the Coal Ministry at that time.

"I respect the judicial process of this country. I hope in any fair trial I will be able to establish my total innocence," the former PM told NDTV.

He said he had stated his position before the CBI. "I have also as Prime Minister issued a statement justifying what we did. I am sure that the truth will prevail."

He told reporters, "Of course I am upset, but this is part of life."

 Singh, who was prime minister of the country from 2004 to 2014, is the most high-profile person to be named in the case.

The court has also named Hindalco, its chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, and former coal secretary PC Parakh among the six accused.

The CBI has levelled some strong charges against the former PM including  criminal conspiracy, corruption and breach of trust.

Reacting to the development, BJP's Prakash Javadekar told media: "Our stand is vindicated. It is a scam of the Congress government. The Congress should now apologise to the entire country and to Manmohan Singh."

Congress leader Manish Tewari said the former Prime Minister has conducted himself with utmost probity and transparency.