Mumbai: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Oct 6, 2004) strongly justified his Government's decision to scrap the S N Phukan Commission, probing the Tehelka expose on the Defence deals, and asserted that political consideration did not prompt the move.

"Phukan Commission has not been able to produce a report in its three year stint. What is the guarantee that it will come out with a report after getting an extension of another three months sought by it," Singh said when asked about disbanding of the Commission and handing over the matter to the CBI.

"We played the game straight and the Government is not working in a vindictive manner," he said.

Singh said, "India is a poor country and it should be taken into consideration whether to add burden by extending the terms of these Commissions."