Never used office to enrich myself, family or friends: Former PM Manmohan Singh

In a scathing attack, Singh said institutions of democracy are under threat and the entire edifice of the welfare state is now being dismantled in the guise of promoting faster economic growth.
   
"As far as I am concerned, I can say in all humility that I have not used my public office to enrich myself, to enrich my family or my friends. And still the BJP government keeps on harping on this theme of corruption because it wants to distract the attention of the people to non-issues," he said in a hard-hitting speech at an event here.
  
His comments came in the wake of former TRAI chairman Pradip Baijal's allegations that Singh had warned him of harm if he did not cooperate on 2G telecom licenses.

Baijal, who was probed for several years in connection with the 2G spectrum allocation scam case, also claimed that the CBI wanted him to "implicate" Arun Shourie and Ratan Tata in the case.

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Report card: Centre delivered corruption free governance in last one year, says Jaitley

''Our priority is to get the GST and Land Bills passed by Parliament,'' Jaitley told a press conference while presenting the report card of Modi government.

The Finance Minister further said notifications with regard to Blackmoney Bill will be issued shortly.

''Misuse of investigation agencies is a thing of the past,'' Jaitley told reporters. Jaitley said the NDA government will make every effort to meet GST rollout deadline of April 1, 2016.

Commenting over the ongoing tussle between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, the Finance Minister said the Home Ministry's notification on LG's powers will help remove confusion in the national capital.

Modi government is going to complete one year in office on May 26.

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Swaraj Bill gets Delhi Cabinet nod

However, no transaction of business took place during the first day of the Assembly session due to disruption caused by Congress and BJP MLAs demanding Law Minister Somnath
Bharti's resignation.
   
A detailed discussion on Swaraj Bill was also held in Wednesday’s cabinet meeting. Touted as a measure for achieving true 'self-rule', the Bill provides for decentralisation of power by setting up mohalla sabhas at ward level.

   
Senior government officials had held a meeting on Sunday and finalized the modalities of Swaraj Bill which intends to put in place mohalla sabhas where power would be given to the common people to solve problems at the local level.
   
Former chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh SC Behar, drafted Swaraj Bill along with some experts.
   
Seeking to dispel the fear that AAP members would take over Mohalla sabhas, Behar had said "under the Bill, mohalla sabhas are being made strong. However, it is not that party members will take their control.

 (Agencies)

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