Crackdown unfortunate,but there was no choice: PM

The Opposition BJP came down heavily on the Prime Minister,saying his defence of police action is bizarre. It was a mass torture which the police indulged in. It is bizarre, said BJP general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The Prime Minister,also rejected the charges from civil society activists that the ruling coalition was only trying to delay matters on the issue of corruption,saying his government was committed to tackling the issue. The government is serious and we are concerned about corruption and blackmoney. There is no doubt. But there is no magic wand, he said.

Singh,however,refused to comment on the issue of Prime Minister being brought under the purview of the Lokpal,saying that the issue was before the joint drafting committee headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

He also evaded questions relating to allegations that Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran may have indirectly benefitted by the payoffs in a telecom deal.

All these matters are being looked into by law enforcement agencies. They should be allowed to do their work without fear or favour, the Prime Minister said.

Asked on his assessment of his two years in office,Singh said it was for the people to judge.