I am not quitting : PM

In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister referred to the media expose of various scams including the CommonwealthGames, ISRO deal, Adarsh housing affairs but asked the medianot to give an image that India was a scam-driven country andnothing good was happening.

He said that such an image would weaken theself-confidence of the people and it would not be in theinterest of the country.

"I wish to assure the country as a whole that ourgovernment is dead serious about bringing to book allwrongdoers regardless of the position they occupy," he said.

To a question what was his biggest regret in UPA-II,Singh said that "these irregularities have happened. Theyshould not have happened. I am not very happy about thesedevelopments".

He virtually disagreed with the CAG calculations on theloss figure in the 2G scam saying the CAG itself had called itpresumptive.

There are various methods of computing the figures andwent on to question whether the Rs 80,000 crore being spent onfoodgrain subsidy, Rs 60,000 crore on fertilisers and subsidyon kerosene could be called as loss.

He was replying to a question whether he agreed withTelecom minister Kapil Sibal''s description of zero loss in the2G scam.

To a question on Home Minister P Chidambaram''s commentson governance deficit, he admitted, "obviously, some eventshave brought out the weaknesses in governance and processes, Ithink we need to improve the quality of governance. But thatdoes not divide me and other members of the government."

He rejected a questioner''s suggestion that hisgovernment was facing double-incumbency of attacks from theopposition and within the party.

"I do not get that impression (party not backing him).

In a democracy, there are views and discussions and whendecisions are taken, our party stands united in support of thegovernment.

"I would like a cohesive party to support the governmentbut I am not saying it is not happening," he said. (More) PTIARC SPG AKK MS