Will Quit If Team Anna Allegations are Proved: Manmohan

Bangalore: A combative Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday threatened to "give up" his public career if there was any truth in the allegations hurled against him by Team Anna.

"I will give up my public career" if there is any truth in the allegations, Manmohan Singh said while speaking to reporters on board Air India One on his return home from a three-day visit to Myanmar.

Team Anna had Saturday charged the prime minister and 14 cabinet ministers of "massive" corruption and sought an independent probe into the charges.

Team Anna questioned the role of Manmohan Singh in the coal scam which recently came to light. The prime minister was in charge of the coal portfolio from November 2006 to May 2009.

Manmohan Singh said that the allegations should be verified.

"Aur agar usmen jara bhi sach nikalta hai to main - I will give up my public career and country can give me any punishment," he asserted.

Speaking alternately in English and Hindi, Manmohan said: "Bharat ki janta is baat ka faisla kare ki kya kasoor kiya hai pradhan mantri ne jo ki itne kathin aur kathor shabd unke liye istemal kiye ja rahe hain (The people of India must decide whether the prime minister has committed any crime deserving such harsh words)".