Never misused public office, says Manmohan Singh

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday hit out at allegations of corruption and policy paralysis against his UPA government, saying he never used public office to "enrich" himself or his family and friends.

"I say in all humility that I have not used public office to enrich myself, family or friends," Manmohan Singh said at the national convention of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) here.

He also said that allegations of "policy paralysis" against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government were "untrue".

"When our government left, India was the second fastest growing economy," he said.

The former prime minister said that "BJP harps on corruption to divert people's attention to non-issues".

"We have been fighting corruption. There will be no compromise on corruption," he said.

Former TRAI chairman Pradip Baijal on Monday alleged that Singh had warned him of harm if he did not cooperate on 2G telecom licenves.

The former prime minister claimed that many of the UPA government's schemes were being repackaged as initiatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

"What the BJP had opposed when we were in power are now being sold as its contribution."

"The Congress party has tried hard to ensure that India flourishes as an open, pluralistic, liberal secular democracy proud of its composite heritage", he said, adding that "this very idea of India is now under systemic assault".

He 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.