Have deepest regard for PM: Team Anna

Ghaziabad, May 30 (IANS) Faced with a direct attack from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Team Anna said Wednesday it had the "deepest regard" for him but wanted to know where a first information report (FIR) could be registered against an allegedly corrupt minister.

"We have the deepest regard for the prime minister...but we want to know which agency can register an FIR against a minister," Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal told reporters at his residence in this Delhi suburb.

The statement came a day after a combative Manmohan Singh said he would quit public life if any allegation of corruption against him was proved. Also on Tuesday, Team Anna member N. Santosh Hegde distanced himself from the group's demand for an inquiry against the prime minister and 14 allegedly corrupt ministers.

Manmohan Singh's reaction came after Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan had attacked him personally Monday.

Team Anna had last week charged the prime minister and 14 cabinet ministers of "massive" corruption and sought an independent probe into the charges. Team Anna also questioned the role of Manmohan Singh in the coal scam unearthed by the CAG. The prime minister held the coal portfolio from November 2006 to May 2009.

Kejriwal also wondered "why the prime minister had overlooked the advice of the coal secretary to auction coal blocks".

Meanwhile, Kejriwal said Anna Hazare and his associates will participate in yoga guru Baba Ramdev fast here June 3 to mark the first anniversary of his forcible eviction from the Ramlila ground where he was protesting against corruption.