The government says, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh should make a statement whether the PMO had pushed the Supreme Court collegium to confer permanent status to a Madras High Court additional judge.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House in New Delhi today, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said Dr Singh's categorical statement communicating what exactly happened will remove misgivings and help enhance the image of the judiciary.

He said Dr Singh's silence indicates that something is being hidden. Naidu said former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju's revelations prove that the UPA-1 was working under pressure and trying to compromise on each and every issue.

Katju has alleged that the collegium made improper compromises to give extension to a judge whom he said was corrupt.