New Delhi: Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday apologised for the 'Shikhandi' remark made by Prashant Bhushan for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying there's difference of opinion on the comment in the team.
"Some people had raised questions about the language used by Prashant Bhushan. We apologise for that. There's difference of opinion on Prashant Bhushan's 'Shikhandi' remark in Team Anna," he said.
However, Team Anna added more fuel to the controversy surrounding Manmohan Singh's alleged involvement in the coal blocks allocation, saying the scam needs to be probed to know the real beneficiaries.
Arvind Kejriwal said it's not a fight against Manmohan Singh. "There is no need for a change in the law to auction coal blocks but the Prime Minister's Office insisted and proceeded with giving away the coal blocks. This has led to huge loss to the country," he said.
"We would be happiest if the allegations against the Prime Minister are proved wrong. But for this, there should be an investigations. According to CAG report there has been a scam. The Prime Minister may not have been the beneficiary but someone has taken the benefits and that needs to be Probed," he added.
Earlier, Team Anna on Wednesday stayed firm on its allegations against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and questioned as to why didn't he say he'll go to jail if the charges were proved. Team Anna member Manish Sisodia said, "Why is the Prime Minister avoiding probe in the coal scam? The Prime Minister says if the allegations are proved, he will quit public life. Why doesn't he say that he will spend the rest of his life in prison if the scam is true? This means the Prime Minister is confessing that politicians can evade and live a life of luxury despite carrying out huge corruption."
Earlier, the Prime Minister had hit back strongly at Team Anna's allegations. Speaking aboard his plane on Tuesday as he returned from Myanmar, the Prime Minister had staked his pride and said that he would give up public life if the allegations against him were proved.
"I will give up my public life if allegations are proved against me. My long public career as Finance Minister, as Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and now as Prime Minister has been an open book, Manmohan Singh said.
Team Anna stood by the allegations which they said are borne out by a CAG draft report which suggested irregularities in allocation of coal blocks, when the Prime Minister briefly held the coal portfolio.
"I have made it clear that that the Prime Minister may not take bribes himself, but he is allowing his Cabinet ministers to loot the public exchequer," Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan said.
Team Anna insisted that if the government means business, it should order a probe into the charges.
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