Mumbai, Feb 3 (IANS) Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar Friday defended Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying that the Supreme Court verdict cancelling 2G licences was not a denunciation of the government.
“The court has taken note of the PM’s letter to then telecom minister A. Raja to ensure fairness and transparency in spectrum allocation,” Pawar told reporters here.
“The Supreme Court has noted that the prime minister had done his job. Hence, the prime minister of the UPA government cannot be blamed,” he added.
Pawar, however, said that verdict has brought disrepute to the government and that the said ministers will now tend to be cautious in their approach, which might thereby delay the decision-making process.
Hinting at the verbal fight between his nephew and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Congress leader Narayan Rane ahead of the Maharashtra civic polls, Pawar said that restraint must be exercised while speaking in public meetings.
He advised NCP leaders to avoid any personal comments even if the opposite party is making incendiary speeches.
Pawar also rubbished allegations on NCP leaders and termed them as baseless.
Asked to comment on allegations of former aviation minister Praful Patel accepting bribes from a Canadian national, Pawar dismissed the allegation saying that the question of bribery does not arise.
