At a time when in Delhi, the CPI(M) has upped its ante against the UPA government over the 2G Spectrum allocation scam, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Friday gave Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a clean chit.
Describing him as an honest man, Mr Bhattacharjee said: “I personally believe that the Prime Minister is an honest man and an honest politician. I have no doubt about his integrity.”
He, however, also pointed out that there was something definitely wrong in the system. “Some unscrupulous politicians, corporates, media persons and power brokers have ruined the system. A staggering sum of `1.76 lakh crores has been looted,” he added.
Mr Bhattacharjee said that at nearly nine per cent, the GDP growth was quite encouraging. “However, this is one side of the story. The other side is that there is a major problem of corruption at the highest level,” he added. Mr Bhattacharjee was speaking at the inaugural session of the 24th International India Trade Fair at the Milan Mela ground. The event is jointly organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI) and the state government.