PM Manmohan Singh not responsible for corruption: Nitish Kumar

Corruption has emerged as a major issue in the country but Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was not responsible for the situation, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said today.

"I don't hold the prime minister responsible for the entire issue related to corruption... But the situation reflects that governance is not up to the mark," he told a press conference in Patna.

When his attention was drawn to Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee's statement that the Centre was ready to convene a special session of Parliament for a debate on the 2G spectrum issue, Kumar said "it has no meaning".

"In fact, the Centre should have accepted the opposition's demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) into the 2G Spectrum scam," he said but refused to comment on NDA's demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Singh on the issue.

To a question about senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar's alleged business links with controversial corporate lobbyist Nira Radia, Kumar said, "Ananth Kumar is competent to give a reply to it."

Asked whether he predicted a mid-term poll in view of the impasse in Parliament over the 2G spectrum scam, Kumar said, "I don't think such a situation will arise, given the numerical strength of UPA in the house."

Citing instances of alleged lack of governance by the UPA government, he said the Centre's 'discriminatory' attitude towards states not ruled by Congress spoke volumes.

While the Centre allocated funds to Andhra Pradesh and other states ruled by Congress for relief, it did not do so for Kosi rehabilitation project in Bihar.

"We had not sought any special favour from the Centre on the issue... We had not pressed for funds for carrying out relief but we wanted that the Centre help us for the rehabilitation of the people affected by Kosi floods in 2008... Whenever Congress came to power, it made sinister attempts to weaken the federal strucure of the country," Kumar said.

The state government had, in the absence of the Centre's help, approached the World Bank for loans for Kosi flood rehabilitation project.

"They (Congress) made mockery of Bihar even at the time of elections and the people have taught them a lesson," he said apparently referring to Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi attacking his government for not properly utilising central funds.

The chief minister said war against corruption would continue in Bihar and he had asked his ministerial colleagues to declare their assets by December 31, 2010. The lists of assets would be made public and pasted on the state government's website.

"I have also asked other public servants from Grade I to Grade III to declare their assets," he said, adding, his government was firm in its resolve to confiscate properties of public servants, including ministers, disproportionate to their known sources of income, and open schools there.

The state vigilance wing would be strengthened to check corruption, he added .

Turning to the long-standing demand for special status to Bihar, Kumar said it was an issue which required immediate attention from the Centre.

"We had raised the issue even during the National Development Council (NDC) meeting... We will continue to build up pressure on the Centre for the purpose.

"We have solicited support from all the political parties for exerting collective pressure on the Centre for the special state issue," he said and held the Centre responsible for the rise in the prices of commodities across the country.