BJP demands probe into book's allegations against Manmohan

Yet another memoir, this time by economist and former West Bengal finance minister Ashok Mitra, has political circles in a tizzy. The book 'A Prattler's Tale' makes sensational allegations about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's appointment as finance minister in the Narasimha Rao government.

The BJP today went to town over the allegations made in the book, which includes the outright suggestion that Manmohan had been the choice of the "Washington consensus" as finance minister.

Distributing excerpts from the book, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha said that had the allegations been made by anyone other than Mitra, the party would have dismissed them.

The excerpts dealing with this episode allege that Singh was in fact the nominee of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as well a powerful US interest.

Yashwant Sinha said that the allegations in the book were serious and raised questions over the PM's patriotism and integrity. "We want not just the PM but also for Mitra himself to provide proof of his allegations," he said.

"These are serious matters and we feel that the sooner it is clarified the better," he said.

Mitra mentions that Singh was in fact the second choice as finance minister. He does not disclose who the first choice was. "We want to know from Mitra who the first choice was," Sinha said.

When asked as to why Jaswant Singh, in his book, had not clarified who the mole in the PMO was, Sinha said that Singh had adequately clarified his position.

"Even the weakest of governments have not had to face such allegations," he said.