Thursday, October 20 2005 18:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: In a hard-hitting response to Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna's remarks on lapses in use of World Bank funds during his tenure as PWD minister, Chief Minister N Dharam Singh today (Oct 20, 2005) asserted that he was ready to face any probe into the charges against him.

"I am ready to face any probe. Let those who suggested it also indicate the kind of inquiry to be ordered", an angry Singh, who held the PWD portfolio in the Congress ministry headed by Krishna during 1999-2004, hit back at his one-time close associate.

Rejecting allegations that there were financial irregularities in utilising Rs 2030 crore World Bank assistance to improve roads in the state, Singh quoting another assessment report by the funding agency declared "the World Bank has appreciated Karnataka's performance as the best after China".

Krishna had hit out at Singh for reportedly saying that an inquiry would be ordered, if need be, on a report of the World Bank which had ranked Karnataka as the number one in corruption during the period 2000 and 2003, when Krishna was the Chief Minister. "If an inquiry has to be ordered into corruption, it should start from Public Works Department which was held by Dharam Singh in my ministry", Krishna had said on Monday while attacking Singh.

Singh said the World Bank assisted project was monitored by an empowered committee chaired by Chief Secretary and not by the PWD minister. "It is mandatory under the World Bank guidelines that an empowered committee oversee the progress of works. As a PWD minister I only undertook certain follow up measures to expedite the works", he said.

Specifically asked whether the state government would institute a probe on the World Bank survey report relating to Krishna's regime, Singh shot back saying, "if there is any provision to order inquiry on survey reports, I am ready".

He immediately hastened to add that he has already declared that there was no need for any inquiry on the survey report. Singh also asserted that Krishna's remarks had not caused 'embarrassment' to him.

Queried whether the war of words between him and Krishna had not dented his image, Singh said, "I have been winning elections since 34 years. I was also elected to Lok Sabha once. That speaks of my popularity among people. I come from a rural backgroud".

Singh refuted Krishna's charge that several welfare programmes initiated by his government had been put on the backburner by the coalition government.

He said Congress President Sonia Gandhi has complimented him for the achievements of the coalition government at the recent Congress ruled states Chief Ministers conference.

Within hours after Krishna had flayed him for his remarks on ordering a probe, the chief minister had clarified that the government had no plans to hold an inquiry.

Earlier, Public Works Minister H D Revanna, son of Gowda, threw his weight behind the Chief Minister saying there were no irregularities in utilisation of Rs 2030 crore World Bank loan.

He too quoted a World Bank report, which hailed Karnataka's performance on road development project.