Manmohan Singh says he didn't use PM office to enrich himself or his family, adds democracy under threat

New Delhi: Finally breaking his silence and defending himself over allegations of his role in the 2G scam, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that he didn't use public office to enrich himself or any of his family member. "I have not misused public office. The BJP thinks UPA was a corrupt government, I assure we will continue to fight corruption," he said.

Hitting out hard at the National Democratic Alliance government just a day after it completed one year at the Centre, the former PM said that the institution of democracy is under threat under the Narendra Modi regime. "The Congress has tried to ensure that India flourishes. This idea is now under systematic assault," he said.

While accepting that the economy had recovered in the past one year, he claimed that the present government is using the schemes that were formulated by the United Progressive Alliance government during their regime.

"We launched many programmes and many new policies. Many of our programmes are now being enacted in the Modi government. The NDA is renaming our schemes. Talk of policy paralysis is untrue, when our government left, India was the second fastest growing economy," he claimed.

Rubbishing the claims of the NDA government of the shortcomings of the UPA, Manmohan asserted that they are "proud of the achievements."

His comments come in the wake of former Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chairman Pradip Baijal's allegations that the former PM warned him of dire consequences if he didn't cooperate in the 2G case. In a tell all book, the former TRAI chairman has claimed that the UPA II government ruined his reputation to divert corruption charges against the coalition government.

Baijal says he had warned several people in the UPA II government that all enquiries would lead back to the PM, as he had approved the actions of ministers and ministries in his government.