The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) reacted strongly to comments made by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on a televised interaction with owners and editors of TV news organisations here. They blamed the PM for not being able to handle corruption and price rise.

“On two vital issues confronting the nation and the people, that is corruption and price rise, the Prime Minister has virtually thrown up his hand saying nothing much can be done. This is very unfortunate,” said Mr Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) leader. “It is an admission that the Government was subsidising the corporate sector by giving away national assets at throwaway prices,” he said.

The BJP President, Mr Nitin Gadkari, said that the PM was blaming the media and Opposition for the scams facing the Government, while citing coalition politics as a reason for his inability to check corruption. “Coalition does not mean ministry outsourcing,” Mr Gadkari said. The PM has sought to cover up scams related to the 2G spectrum, the Commonwealth Games and the Adarsh Housing Society, he said.