My remarks on coalition dharma don't mean against constitution: Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday defended his statement on 'coalition dharma' saying his remarks on the subject should not create the impression that he would not go by the dictates of the constitution.

"I have taken an oath to defend the constitution and the laws of our country and whatever I may have said about coalition dharma should not in any way convey the impression that I am not in favour of following strictly the dictates of our constitution," Singh said.

The prime minister said, 'it goes without saying that everybody in the country is bound to follow the constitution and, therefore, nothing that I have said is inconsistent with following the dictates of our constitution.'

He was replying to a question at the India Today conclave on whether following the coalition dharma was against following the constitution.

In an interaction with TV editors in New Delhi recently, Singh had cited the compulsion of coalition politics behind A Raja's re-induction in the cabinet as telecom minister despite complaints.

"You cannot suggest your preferences and you have to go by the choice of the leader of the party," he had said.

Raja has been arrested in connection with 2G spectrum allocation scam.