PM rejects WikiLeaks charges of bribery in Trust Vote

Prime Minister said that government denies all allegations of bribe during Indo-US nuclear deal trust vote in last Lok Sabha. Making a statement in both Houses of Parliament, Dr Singh hit back at the opposition for raising "old charges that have been debated, discussed and rejected by the people of India." "The government rejects the allegations absolutely and firmly," he said in identical statements in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, referring to the charges in the WikiLeaks that bribes were paid to win the Confidence Motion in July 2008. Amid thumping of desks by the Treasury Benches, Dr Singh said, "No one from the Congress or government indulged in any unlawful act."
Raising questions over the correspondence between the US Embassy and the State Department in Washington, the Prime Minister said, "The government cannot confirm the veracity, content or even the existence of such communication." To press his contention, he said those who have been named by the WikiLeaks have "stoutly rejected" the charges. Hitting out at the Opposition, he said it was "unfortunate" that it continues to raise the "old charges", giving "dignity" to the "speculative, unverified and unverifiable" communications purportedly between the US Embassy and its government in Washington. He pointed out that the UPA-I had won the Confidence Motion in July 2008 with 275 votes in favour and 256 against. These allegations of bribery were investigated by a committee of the 14th Lok Sabha which concluded that there was insufficient evidence to draw any conclusion.