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The Rediff Interview/ Buta Singh

'I did no wrong. There was no money involved.'

Former Union home minister Buta Singh, who was convicted along with former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha bribery case, continues to defend his actions and maintained that he was not guilty.

He expressed his intention to appeal against the judgment after the quantum of imprisonment is announced on October 11.

"We will study the judgment after the punishment has been announced. I have already said on the floor of the House that I have done no wrong and I had done what was legitimate parliamentary activity," Singh told Onkar Singh.

Sources close to Buta Singh said his family had been expecting the worst. "At the moment, we do not want to say much because that might offend those who matter," said a relative. However, before he could finish his sentence he was whisked off to another room.

What do you have to say about the judgment?

I still maintain I have done no wrong. I am innocent. What I did was legitimate parliamentary activity. Any minority government talks to various other parties to get their support. I had done the same. There was nothing wrong in this. I have made a statement to this effect on the floor of the House as well.

You mean to say that money did not change hands while seeking the support of the JMM members of Parliament?

Even the prosecution did not say in court that money had changed hands. There is no mention of money anywhere in the entire case. No, there was no money involved in it. I can tell you that.

You are denying that money ever changed hands?

I have nothing to do with money. The prosecution did not link me with money. They have not said that I have any role to play in the money part. I am a parliamentary activist and I did what is legitimate in a democracy. I have done what was within the framework of the parliamentary system and for that I cannot be punished.

What will your next course of action be?

I will decide that only after hearing the sentence on October 11. The legal process has not yet been completed. Once the sentence is announced then I will sit with my lawyers and take stock of the situation. I have a right to appeal against the judgment and I will naturally exercise this right.

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