Prime Minsiter Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that the elections in Punjab and Uttrakhand, where the Congress was voted out of power, were not a vote against the central government.

The prime minister, making a rare appearance outside his office in Parliament House, said, "No, this is not a referendum on the central government. Of course there would be some fallout of the elections."

He expressed concern over the rising prices and said that his government was trying to control the spiral. "We are trying to control the prices and inflation. It is a matter of concern to us," he said.

Dr Singh also said the government has done nothing wrong in the Quattrocchi issue and offered to discuss each and every issue with those seeking to raise the matter.