New Delhi, July 26
Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee’s office today vehemently denied reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had offered him the post of Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Referring to the news-item published in The Tribune dated July 26 under the heading “Somnath to be UK envoy?”, a press note from the Speaker’s office described the report as a “a concoction of lies”, adding “that it is not only wholly devoid of truth, but smacks of malice and mischief”.
“The report is intended to defame the present holder of the high office of the Speaker,” the note said. Stating that the facts were not verified with the Speaker’s office, it maintained that the report was based on motivated speculation, aimed at tarnishing the image of the high office and its occupant.
The Tribune regrets publication of the story and we apologise for any embarrassment it may have caused personally to the Speaker and his high office. — Editor
