New Delhi, January 18
Refuting the Opposition charge, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asserted that there was no political interference in the defreezing of London bank accounts of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, prime accused in the Bofors pay-offs case.

“As I have already clarified, there was no political interference (in Quattrocchi issue),” Dr Manmohan Singh told newspersons after laying the foundation stone of the CBI Headquarters complex here.

Earlier, addressing CBI officials at the foundation stone laying ceremony, he expressed concern over the “weakening” track record of the agency in securing the prosecution and conviction of offenders.

The Prime Minister, who was under attack from the Opposition for diluting the autonomy of the CBI, said, “I greatly value the professional autonomy and integrity of your organisation (CBI). It is my solemn commitment that our government will never interfere in your professional work, as indeed it has not since we assumed office”.

Dr Manmohan Singh, who was candid in his criticism of the CBI, said, “The CBI has come under repeated public scrutiny, and will continue to do so... You will have to address issues of image, morale and brand building”.

“I often hear that the CBI takes too long a time to complete its investigations. How far is this true, I cannot say. However, you need to seriously ponder over this issue and take remedial measures,” he said.

“The CBI is today uniquely placed to seize the initiative and consolidate its status as the country’s apex agency excelling in investigative methods and technologies, an intelligence storehouse and a centre of research and development,” he said, adding that, “The CBI should thus have a forward-looking vision of transforming itself into a world-class specialised agency”.

Stating that terrorism is the biggest threat to national security that our country faces today, he said, “The tactics adopted by terrorists in planning, sponsoring and executing their attacks, often with the assistance of state-sponsors, require constant study and analysis”.

The convergence of terror dealers and conventional criminals presents obvious and acute dangers, the Prime Minister said, adding that, “The law enforcement machinery of the country, particularly the CBI, must pursue terrorism investigations and intelligence operations through well-trained investigators using the best available tools, including state-of-the-art forensics”.

On India’s vulnerability to cyber crime, Dr Manmohan Singh pointed out that the large-scale cyber attacks on our critical infrastructure and economy could have potentially devastating results.