Govt denies report on multi-member CAG
12 Nov 2012 7:20 AM IST
Caught in a slugfest over his flip-flop remarks on making the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) a multi-member body, minister of state in the prime minister’s Office (PMO) V Narayanasamy on Sunday rejected any report that indicated the CAG might re-constituted. Saying he was misquoted by the media, Narayanasamy denied any such move.
News agency PTI had reported that the minister said converting the CAG into a multi-member body was under consideration of the government, notwithstanding his subsequent denial. After Narayanasamy’s denial, the news agency said that it stands by the report. In the course of an interview with PTI, Narayanasamy was asked about the recommendation made by former CAG VK Shunglu that the CAG should be made multi-member body.
Narayanasamy had said, ‘It (Shunglu panel’s suggestion to make CAG a multi-member body) is under active consideration. The government is actively considering it.’ He withdrew his statement subsequently and told television channels that he was ‘misquoted’.
In fact, he said that he had told the PTI reporter that six reports of the Shunglu Committee were under government consideration. ‘He (PTI reporter) did not specifically ask me about CAG. I did not specifically reply to him about CAG which he misquoted me saying that the government is considering making CAG a multi-member body. I did not say that,’ said Narayanasamy.
According to reports, he also clarified that the government did not plan to modify the constitution of the CAG in the near future. ‘The honourable Prime Minister, about three days back, made it very clear that the present status of CAG will remain...that makes the position very clear...there is no re- think on the part of the government at present,’ said Narayanasamy.
News agency PTI had reported that the minister said converting the CAG into a multi-member body was under consideration of the government, notwithstanding his subsequent denial. After Narayanasamy’s denial, the news agency said that it stands by the report. In the course of an interview with PTI, Narayanasamy was asked about the recommendation made by former CAG VK Shunglu that the CAG should be made multi-member body.
Narayanasamy had said, ‘It (Shunglu panel’s suggestion to make CAG a multi-member body) is under active consideration. The government is actively considering it.’ He withdrew his statement subsequently and told television channels that he was ‘misquoted’.
In fact, he said that he had told the PTI reporter that six reports of the Shunglu Committee were under government consideration. ‘He (PTI reporter) did not specifically ask me about CAG. I did not specifically reply to him about CAG which he misquoted me saying that the government is considering making CAG a multi-member body. I did not say that,’ said Narayanasamy.
According to reports, he also clarified that the government did not plan to modify the constitution of the CAG in the near future. ‘The honourable Prime Minister, about three days back, made it very clear that the present status of CAG will remain...that makes the position very clear...there is no re- think on the part of the government at present,’ said Narayanasamy.
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