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Breaking his silence over the Supreme Court verdict on the appointment of the Central Vigilance Commissioner, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday owned responsibility for the process and said he would first speak to Parliament.

Speaking to journalists before winding up his daylong visit here, he said: “I have already said that I respect the judgment of the Supreme Court in this regard. I think the highest court of the country has announced the decision. I accept it and respect it, and I accept my responsibility as well.”

Asked about his making a statement in Parliament, he said: “I should first make a statement in Parliament, but I have not made up my mind as yet. I think the issue that is being raised is important and [I] will… surely look into it.”

Answering a question on the internal situation in Pakistan, Dr. Singh said: “I am not here to comment on what is going on in Pakistan. We are dealing with the government of Pakistan, and fortunately India and Pakistan have agreed to resume dialogue at the Foreign Secretary level. Let’s hope that this dialogue proceeds along constructive lines.”

Dr. Singh denied that the recommendations of the working groups set up in 2006 to resolve the issues facing the State were not implemented. “It is not correct to say that the recommendations by the C. Rangarajan Committee were not implemented. The main portions of this report were implemented, and have shown constructive results on the ground. There are certain other portions like the one about the power projects and other things that were not accepted. It should not be said that action was not taken on the report.”

Dr. Singh said all political parties should evince interest in maintaining peace and tranquillity in the State. “As far as the arbitrary arrests are concerned, I have no hesitation in saying that such arrests should not take place.”

Let matters rest there, says Sushma

Neena Vyas reports from New Delhi

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj has said it was time to “let matters rest” after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had “accepted responsibility” for the fiasco that ended with the Supreme Court quashing the September 2010 appointment of Mr. Thomas.

Soon after Dr. Singh told reporters in Jammu on Friday he respected the Supreme Court judgment on the matter and accepted responsibility, Ms. Swaraj tweeted: “I appreciate the statement of the Prime Minister owning responsibility for the appointment of the CVC, which has been quashed by the Supreme Court. I think this is enough. Let matters rest.”