The CWG scam

The "wrongdoers" behind the Commonwealth Games (CWG) corruption scam would not escape, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured.

Answering a question on whether he was disappointed over the delays in the CWG scam probe, he said the government was trying its 'very best' but there was a due process of law. "Sometimes it is frustrating... it takes time."

"You have my assurance that the wrongdoers will not escape," he said.

On Raja

"I wrote a letter to Raja on Nov 2, 2007. I listed a number of issues that you must look into and (ensure) they are dealt (with) in (an) equitable, fair and transparent manner. One of the issues that I asked him to look into was the possibility from the legal and technical angle of having an auction of spectrum," he told a gathering of television editors in an extensive media interaction covering all burning issues facing the country.

"He wrote back to me on the same day saying I had been absolutely transparent in dealings I will be so in the future and you have my assurance that I have done nothing and I will do nothing that will be consistent to the promise that I have made to you," Manmohan Singh added.

He said that there were some media reports on the issue and some telecom companies had raised concerns about the manner of spectrum allocation.

'India should win cricket World Cup'

"My best wishes are with the countrymen and countrywomen of India. India should win the World Cup," Manmohan Singh told a group of TV editors.

Asked about his favourite players in the Indian cricket team, the prime minister said: "I have some but won't mention them".

'You'll see reforms in budget'

"The economic agenda is there. There is the food security bill, the Right to Education (RTE) Act is now a reality, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) reform is a reality, there have been reforms in the National Rural Health Mission," Singh said.

"The same way we are going to have a fresh wave in infrastructure investment with the help of the new Public Private Partnership model. These are not big reforms and I hope in the current budget you will see the reform agenda that our government has," he added.

The budget will be presented on February 28.

The prime minister said the government will not give up on the face of difficulties.

"We have not given up. We will persist. There are difficulties particularly when parliament is not allowed to function," he said.

On Telangana

It has been a complicated issue, evolving consensus. Meeting all political parties and stake holders, we will take this to logical conclusion.

His 'biggest ever regrets'

The Prime listed stabilisation of Indian economy during the global meltdown as the biggest achievements of his government but mentioned the series of corruption scams as the greatest regret of his tenure.

"These irregularities that have happened that has certainly given me...I am not very happy about these developments," he said when a journalist asked him about his biggest regret and achievement of his tenure.

The very fact that during unfavourable economic (conditions), we managed to ensure" that India's economy remained stable, the prime minister said was his greatest achievement.