The former Union Minister for State, V. Narayanasamy, on Saturday criticised the former Comptroller and Auditor-General, Vinod Rai, for criticising Manmohan Singh in his latest book Not Just An Accountant and accused Mr. Rai of double standards.
Speaking to reporters here, he said Mr. Rai had not made any remarks while he was in office. What made him attack the former Prime Minister after retirement, he asked.
Mr. Narayanasamy said the UPA government followed the same norms and procedures in the allotment of 2G spectrum and coal blocks as the previous NDA government. However, Mr. Rai singled out Dr. Singh for criticism. “The criticism is untenable.”
He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi held all the powers, reducing his Ministers to being mere spectators, even deciding the appointment of officials to the Ministries. He wanted to know the alternative the Prime Minister had in mind to the Planning Commission, which the Centre planned to abolish.
Referring to the budget tabled by Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, Mr. Narayanasamy said there was no Central assistance, and all the promises made by the government in the past were yet to be honoured.