New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his ministerial team Saturday declared their assets that places his own wealth at Rs.5.1 crore ($1.3 million), while Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath is richest with over Rs.250 crore ($55 million). Defence Minister A.K. Antony seems the poorest with Rs.35 lakh ($77,000).
The declaration, required under the Code of Conduct for Ministers, also follows Manmohan Singh taking strong exception to remarks by a senior member of parliament on his personal integrity during a debate last month.
"I have been directed by the prime minister to apprise you of the declarations required by a member of the union council of ministers in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Ministers," said a letter in June from then cabinet secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar.
Following this letter and two reminders, the ministers were given an ultimatum and asked to respond at the latest by Aug 31. Similar declarations were also made last year and, like this year, it included the details of immediate family members as well.
All the 32 cabinet ministers, seven ministers of state with independent charge and 37 ministers of state have responded, apart from the prime minister himself.
As per the latest declarations -- posted in www.pmindia.nic.in -- Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal and Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister M.K. Azhagiri figure among those with relatively higher wealth, estimated at Rs.30 crore ($6.5 million) each.
Among the so-called big-four in the council, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is worth around Rs.3 crore, Home Minister P. Chidambaram around Rs.25 crore, Antony around Rs.35 lakh, while External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna commands a little over Rs. 3 crore.
Among the other heavyweights, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is worth Rs.12 crore.
As for the prime minister himself, in the three-page declaration, his personal wealth, which included properties and cash, has been estimated at Rs.5.1 crore ($1.3 million). He may officially travel in BMWs, but owns a Maruti 800 of 1996 vintage worth $560.
Speaking on the debate on corruption in the Lok Sabha Aug 25, the prime minister had said he was hurt by the remarks made by Bharatiya Janata Party's Murli Manohar Joshi, which attacked his personal integrity during his long years in public life.
"Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi is not here. Yesterday, he made a powerful speech and he turned (it) into a personal attack on me as if I am the fountainhead of corruption and that I have knowingly connived at corruptions of some of my colleagues," he said.
"I would like to assert before this house that I have a public life in the service of this country for nearly 41 years. In these 41 years of my public life, 20 years in parliament I have tried to serve this country to the best of my ability."