Dharam rebuts Krishna's remarks

In a hard hitting response to Maharashtra Governor SM Krishna's remarks on lapses in use of World Bank funds during his tenure as PWD minister, Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh today said he was ready to face any probe into the charge against him.

"I am ready to face any probe. Let those who suggested it also indicate the kind of inquiry to be ordered," Singh, who held the PWD portfolio in the Congress ministry headed by Krishna during 1999-2004, hit back at his one-time close associate.

Rejecting allegations that there were financial irregularities in using Rs 2,030 crore World Bank assistance to improve roads in the state, Singh, quoting another assessment report by the funding agency, said "the World Bank has appreciated Karnataka's performance as the best after China".

Krishna had hit out at Singh for reportedly saying inquiry would be ordered, if need be, on a report of the World Bank, which had ranked Karnataka as number one in corruption during 2000 and 2003 when Krishna was the chief minister.

"If an inquiry has to be ordered into corruption, it should start from public works department, which was held by Dharam Singh in my ministry", Krishna had said on Monday while attacking Singh.

Singh said the World Bank assisted project was monitored by an empowered committee chaired by the chief secretary and not the PWD minister. "It is mandatory under the World Bank guidelines that an empowered committee oversee the progress of works.

As a PWD minister, I only undertook certain follow-up measures to expedite the works", he said.