Manmohan denies WikiLeaks allegations

MUMBAI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday denied the country's ruling Congress party offered bribes to win a crucial vote in Parliament on the U.S.-India nuclear deal in 2008, a day after the leaked U.S. diplomatic cable containing these allegations was released.

"I have no knowledge of any such purchases and I am absolutely categorical, I have not authorized anyone to purchase any votes. I am not aware of any acts of purchase of votes," said Mr. Singh speaking at a conference in New Delhi on Friday.

Later Friday, speaking in the lower house of Parliament, Singh said his government "absolutely and firmly" rejected allegations of bribery.

"I wish to make it clear that no one from the Congress Party or the government indulged in any unlawful act during the trust vote in July 2008," Mr. Singh said.

Thursday, the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks made public a U.S. Embassy cable, dated July 17, 2008, that reported on a conversation between senior Congress party leader Satish Sharma and then-U.S. embassy official Steven White about the government's efforts to secure support in Parliament for the nuclear deal.

Had the government lost the vote, it would likely have fallen. The allegations come at a difficult time for Singh, whose government is already besieged by allegations of corruption and fast-rising prices. (Online)