Vouching for former prime minister Manmohan Singh's integrity, Congress leader Manish Tewari on Wednesday said that the ex PM's legal team would delve into the matter after examining the lower court's order in connection with the coal blocks allocation scam.
Tewari pointed out that the Supreme Court, which examined the allocation of coal blocks from 1993 to 2009, had virtually given a clean chit to Dr Singh, reports Zee News.
"If at all, a trial court has come to a certain conclusion, it would have to be seen as to what are the facts and circumstances which have warranted that conclusion. And more often than not you have subordinate court decisions which are regularly challenged, which are stayed, overturned, quashed by superior courts. So, after examining the order of the lower court, we will take an appropriate call or former prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's legal team would take an appropriate call," said the Congress leader.
"But I would like to unambiguously underscore and reiterate that the former government, the former prime minister conducted himself with utmost probity, utmost transparency. And time and the legal/judicial processes will vindicate our stand," Tewari added.
Manmohan Singh, who headed the United Progressive Alliance government for 10 years, said he had already stated his position before the CBI.
"Of course, I am upset but this is part of life. I have respect for the judicial process. I have stated my position before the CBI. I have issued statements also justifying what we did," he told reporters.
"I have always said I am open for legal scrutiny. I am sure the truth will prevail and I will get a chance to put forward my case with all the facts," the former PM said, adding that he will discuss with his legal counsel on contesting the summons.
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that Manmohan Singh was paying for the "sin" committed by the Congress party, reports IANS.
Special Judge Bharat Parashar also summoned industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, former coal secretary P.C. Parakh and three others on 8 April.
"It is a (sic) Congress' scam and because of the Congress' sin, Manmohan ji, the economist (former) prime minister has to face this," Javadekar told reporters.
"Congress is responsible for bringing former PM to this threshold," he added.
Calling it "yet another blot on the Congress", Javadekar said all political parties siding with Congress will now be forced to reconsider their stand.
Earlier in the day, a special court in Delhi summoned former prime minister Manmohan Singh as accused in a coal block allocation case.
Special Judge Bharat Parashar also summoned industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, former coal secretary P.C. Parakh and three others as an accused in the case set for an 8 April hearing.
