PM denies WikiLeaks allegations, says not aware of purchase of votes

New Delhi:  After the political controversy over a WikiLeaks cable that suggests that the Congress bought the support of MPs during a vote of confidence in 2008, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said he did not authorise anyone to purchase votes.

"People named in cables have expressed doubts over their veracity," said Dr Manmohan Singh.

On July 22 2008, Dr Manmohan Singh won the vote of confidence by a slim margin. The Left had quit the government over India's nuclear deal with the US. In the days leading upto the vote, there were hectic political negotiations to win new friends and influence people.

It is in that context that a cable was sent on July 17 by the US Charge d'Affaires Steven White, in which he described  a visit by the Embassy's Political Counselor to senior Congress leader Satish Sharma, known for his proximity to the Gandhi family.

The cable states: "Sharma's political aide Nachiketa Kapur mentioned to an Embassy staff member in an aside on July 16 that Ajit Singh's RLD had been paid Rupees 10 crore (about $2.5 million) for each of their four MPs to support the government. Kapur mentioned that money was not an issue at all, but the crucial thing was to ensure that those who took the money would vote for the government." (Read entire cable here) | (Watch: Ajit Singh denies his MPs were bribed)

Mr White also says that "Kapur showed the Embassy employee two chests containing cash and said that around Rupees 50-60 crore (about $25 million) was lying around the house for use as pay-offs."