PM Singh hits back Team Anna over allegations

New Delhi, May 30: Prime Minister

hit back at

, while the latter stood stiff necked over their claim that even if the PM was honest, he let other ministers under him to loot the country. PM Singh said that he would leave public life if found guilty.

"I will give up my public life if allegations are proved against me. My long public career as Finance Minister, as Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and now as Prime Minister has been an open book," said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

This is the first time that the name of Prime Minister Singh has cropped up in the list of corrupt in the UPA. According to Team Anna, the allegations were levelled based on a CAG report, which threw light on irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks, when PM Singh held the coal portfolio.

"I have made it clear that the Prime Minister may not take bribes himself, but he is allowing his Cabinet ministers to loot the public exchequer," said Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan.

Prashant Bhushan allegedly called PM Singh 'Shikhandi' which evoked strong criticism from all quarters. He later retracted from his statement.

"The word that has been used is not right, whether it was used against the PM or any other individual," said Team Anna member Santosh Hegde.

Team Anna, however, said that the government should take action and order probe into the charges, if it were serious.

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