— PHOTO: SUBHAV SHUKLA/ PTI

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh interacting with the media on board Air India One on Saturday after his visit to London and Finland.

ON BOARDS PM'S SPECIAL AIRCRAFT: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday told reporters that "nothing surprises me, particularly when it comes to Mr. George Fernandes."

He was asked whether he was surprised at Mr. Fernandes' accusations against President Abdul Kalam in the context of criminal investigations into the purchase of Barak missiles from Israel.

For the third time in as many months, the Prime Minister promised that the country would have a "full-fledged Foreign Minister" shortly. "I think you won't have to wait for too long," he said.

He said he was "reasonably satisfied with the performance of his Government — which is now almost at the mid-way mark of its five-year term," but added, "there are, I think, miles to go before we sleep."

To a question on the status of the Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy Committee, which had been set up by him to inquire into the replacement of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) with a more humane legislation, the Prime Minister insisted that the report was under consideration. "I cannot say that we can take any action," he said.

The report was handed over to the Government in June 2005. Asked why it was taking so long to accept or reject the recommendation for the repeal of AFSPA, Dr. Singh said the Government "has to take the totality of the situation in various parts of the country before we do anything further... We are dealing with difficult situations, with insurgency, not only in the North-East but also in Jammu and Kashmir."

Taking note of the Gujarat High Court's recent judgment striking down the U.C. Bannerjee Committee of inquiry into the February 2002 train fire at Godhra as "illegal" and "unconstitutional," Dr. Singh said, "We have to respect the judgment of the courts but... there are higher courts of appeal and we will explore [our options]."

In the case of Afzal Guru, sentenced to death for taking part in the terrorist conspiracy to attack Parliament in December 2001, Dr. Singh declined to offer his views on the convicted man's mercy petition and the Opposition's strident demands that he be hanged. "There is a legal process which must have its course," he said.

Despite the recent all-party demand in Kerala for a Chinese consortium in the Vizhinjam port project to be given the requisite security clearances by the Centre, the Prime Minister indicated that he was not going to intervene. "I am not saying Chinese companies should not be allowed. Whether it is Chinese companies or other companies, wherever security concerns have been raised have to be carefully assessed."

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