M A I N   N E W S

Law Minister will stay: Manmohan
* Says Chinese incursion a localised problem
* Don’t want to ‘accentuate’ situation
* Efforts on to resolve crisis
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 27
Charging the Opposition with making a mockery of the system of democracy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today rejected its demand for his resignation as well as that of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar for alleged government interference in the preparation of the CBI report on the coal block allocations.

Speaking for the first time on the incursion by Chinese troops, the Prime Minister said India does not want to “accentuate” the situation and was working on a plan to resolve the crisis. The PM said: “We do have a plan. We do not want to accentuate the situation. We do believe that it is possible to resolve this problem. It is a localised problem. I think the talks are going on”.

The Prime Minister was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the defence investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

About the opposition demand seeking the ouster of the Law Minister, he said this was not the first time that the Opposition had demanded his resignation in the last nine years. “But I would like to appeal to the Opposition that they should let Parliament function. By not allowing Parliament to function, we are making a mockery of our system of democracy. The whole world is laughing at us,” the Prime Minister said.

He said whatever issues were there, they could be debated and resolved through proper discussions in Parliament.

Asked if he would ask the Law Minister to quit, he said there was no question of Ashwani Kumar’s resignation. The matter, he noted, was now in the court.

On the BJP charge that the PM was using the law minister to cover himself in the coalgate scam, he said, “I would not like to comment on this subject.’’

The Prime Minister sought to play down the incursion by China saying it was a “localised problem” and expressed confidence that the issue can be resolved.

On April 15, a platoon-strength contingent of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) had intruded across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and set up tents South East of the advanced landing ground at Daulat Beg Oldie in Northern Ladakh. The Army had rushed its troops from the 5 Ladakh Scouts battalion to the spot where Scouts pitched their own tent with the directive to keep a close watch on the Chinese.

The Army has given its inputs to the government and the China Study Group (CSG). The National Security Adviser heads the CSG, which is handling the present situation in Ladakh. The Army has also given a series of options to the government on the issue, including the aggressive use of military to handle the present situation.

All the options suggested to the CSG are being looked at carefully and other stakeholders in the situation have also given their inputs.

Asked about the chit fund scandal in West Bengal which has affected a lot of ordinary people, the PM said unauthorised collection of deposits, in exchange for the promise that exorbitant rate of return would be given, was something which has to be curbed.

What the Prime Minister said

• There was no question of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar’s resignation.
• Charges the Opposition with making a mockery of the system of democracy
• Says this was not the first time that the Opposition had demanded his resignation in the last nine years
• Whatever issues were there, they could be debated and resolved through proper discussions in Parliament.

“Let Parliament function”

I would like to appeal to the Opposition that they should let Parliament function. By not allowing Parliament to function, we are making a mockery of our system of democracy. The whole world is laughing at us.

Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister