DMK is our partner as of now: PM

In his first public comments on the DMK-Congress alliance after the arrest of Kanimozhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said "as of now" the DMK is "our partner" and there is no change in it. "As of now DMK is our partner and there is no change in that," he said on being asked whether the government and the Congress party was open to the idea of bringing in AIADMK into the UPA fold.

He was speaking to reporters while returning home from a six-day trip to Ethiopia and Tanzania. Asked about the probe into the 2G scam in which Kanimozhi, the daughter of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, has been arrested, he said the matter was in court and it would not be proper on his part to comment. "As far as 2G investigations are concerned, the CBI is at work and the matter is in the court. It would be improper for me to make any comments about the progress of the case," he said.

On the long-awaited cabinet reshuffle which he had earlier stated would take place before the Monsoon session of Parliament, Singh said, "When I go back home I will apply my mind."

When pressed further on the issue, he said: "As far as Cabinet reshuffle is concerned, I don't like to discuss this matter in a press conference." The Prime Minister responded to questions on David Headley's damning depositions in a Chicago court, the deteriorating security situation in Pakistan, the muddle over the IMF chief's appointment and the economic situation.

Asked about the Assembly election results in Kerala and West Bengal and his views on Left politics, Singh said he was not an expert on this but people of the two states had spoken and "that is a telling manifestation".

He was referring to the drubbing of the Left parties in the recent Assembly elections to five states.

"People of Kerala and West Bengal have spoken and that is a telling manifestation... That Left politics has also to learn important lessons about the functioning of our polity," he said.

‘Need to think afresh on land acquisition’
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there was need for thinking afresh on the "very sensitive" matter of land acquisition and promised to bring in the monsoon session of Parliament a legislation that would protect farmers' interests. "On land acquisition, we need to think afresh. We have a Bill that has been on the table for quite some time and we are committed to bring this Bill for approval by Parliament in the next monsoon session," he said. He appealed to political parties not to politicise the issue.