In an arch reaction to Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram's statement that institutions such as the Comptroller and Auditor General were overstepping their jurisdiction, former CAG Vinod Rai today said the minister's statements were "gospel".
Rai, who clashed with UPA government on some occasions during his tenure, was interacting with students of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) at a function here.
"Whatever the Finance Minister says should be considered as Gospel. Governance is a zero sum game," he said to a question about Chidambaram's remark.
Speaking at golden jubilee function of CBI, Chidambaram had said earlier this month that "there are a number of cases where investigating agencies and other authorities like CAG have overstepped their limits and attempted to convert bonafide executive decisions into either crime or abuse of authority".
Rai also said, on a plainer note, that morality is important in every sector, be it private or public, as it will bring "sustainable growth".
Dr C Rangarajan, chairman of Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, was also present at the function.
