"No comment on Jairam Ramesh remarks"

The government refused to comment on Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh's controversial remarks in China, saying it was an issue between him, the prime minister and the Congress president.

The government on Thursday, refused to comment on Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh's controversial remarks in China, saying it was an issue between him, the prime minister and the Congress president.

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"I will not comment on this. It is an issue between the prime minister, the UPA (ruling United Progressive Alliance) chairperson and Rameshji," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet briefing.

"It is not for me to comment on an issue like this," she added.

Asked if the cabinet had discussed the issue, Soni replied: "Cabinet meetings are held according to an agenda. No other issues are discussed."

Ramesh had created a storm with his remarks at a conference in Beijing last week that the home ministry was paranoid over issuing visas for Chinese workers for projects in India.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has turned down Ramesh's offer to step down and asked him not to speak out against other ministries.

"Yes, the minister (Ramesh) had clarified his position to the PM (prime minister). He had also offered to quit. But the offer has been turned down for the moment," a senior official in Prime Minister's Office said.