CAG to PM: Never questioned Govt's policy formulation

New Delhi, Nov 9: In an unprecedented move, Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai has rejected suggestions from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the auditor has transgressed its mandate by questioning policy issues, evoking a strong reaction from the government and the Congress.

Rai, in a letter to the Prime Minister, referred to Singh's press conference in which he had said that it is not right for the CAG to go into issues which are not its concern. "I wish to clarify that during my tenure none of our audit reports have commented on policy issues...nowhere does the (2G) report ever make references or comments on formulation of policy by the Cabinet," Rai said in his two-page letter.

Responding to the development, Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanasamy said it was "unfortunate that nowadays, CAG is coming into focus. In fact, I saw from the media that when some reports were prepared and it has to be sent to the ministry, the Auditor General's deputy has been showing it to the public as if it is a document which a political party is releasing as its manifesto."

While acknowleding that CAG is a constitutional authority, which is an independent body, Narayanasamy told media channels that they have to work within the framework given to them. "They have no business to criticise the government and make random observations," he said. Congress spokesperson Renuka Chaudhary said "there is a spirit where we all work collectively. He (Rai) could have gone and met the Prime Minister gracefully."

PTI