PM is back, takes fight to the Opposition

Asserts govt will complete term despite destabilising forces; says retail FDI only after political consensus.

Taking the attack to the Opposition, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tonight accused certain “forces” of trying to destabilise the polity and said a “restless Opposition” was trying to force early elections.

He told journalists travelling with him on board Air India One from New York that the Opposition had found “some weak points” in his government and, therefore, felt it could force elections. “This is not the way. This government has the mandate for five years. It will stay its course and we will do so,” an assertive Singh said. Admitting there could be a problem of perception about his government, he said there was a need to correct that. He went on to add he suspected there were “other forces”, which he did not identify, that wanted to “destabilise our polity”.

Singh said he was not aware of any “ministerial fight”. “I think the ministerial fight you are talking about (in the media), I am not aware of such a thing,” he said. Asked if he would give P Chidambaram a clean chit on the 2G issue, he said, “He enjoyed my full confidence, he continues to enjoy my full confidence and that applies to Mr (Pranab) Mukherjee as well.”

He said, “We are a cohesive government. We shall give cohesive governance. There is no room for dissensions in my Cabinet.” Having said that, he added in the Cabinet, there were always debates with “an open mind”. “The ministers have a different perspective. That does not amount to lacking cohesiveness. It always helps in taking decisions. There is nothing of the sort that the media has been writing about for the last few days,” he said.

With regard to the controversial finance ministry note to the PMO, Singh said he had read it and it was being set out as record.

"All these matters are now before the courts. And, it is not appropriate for me to make a comment. These are also property of the people (under RTI)," Singh said.

He said the Opposition was getting "prematurely restless". "I have said this in Parliament that we have the mandate of the people to govern for five years and the Opposition should wait for two-and-a-half years."

Singh also appealed to political parties to work together to ensure the passage of important economic legislations and maintain GDP growth of nine per cent. He said FDI in the retail sector would be allowed after a political consensus.