Manmohan a man of integrity, says Buddha

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya may have differences with Manmohan Singh's policies, particularly, for his "special love for America", but he has "great respect" for the Prime Minister whom he calls a "man of integrity".     

Bhattacharya also regrets the police firing in Nandigram while making it clear that he had never thought of stepping down after the violence there as he was part of the government which had "collective responsibility."

"I respect him (Manmohan Singh) because he is a knowledgeable econonist and a man of integrity. May be I differ with his policies, particularly, his special love for America, but I have great respect for him," the 65-year-old CPI (M) leader told NDTV.

On Nandigram, the West Bengal Chief Minister said he had never decided to step down from the post after the violence there since he was part of a government which had the "collectively responsibility".

But "confrontation with the police, the police firing I did not like...Police firing on innocent people who may have been misled by the opposition party, I thought was not good. Therefore, I felt bad at that time. I still feel bad. "If I had known that this thing is going to happen in Nandigram, I would not have sent the police there. That is my only regret," the veteran Communist said.