The BJP on Monday denounced former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his criticism of the Modi Government’s economic policies and said India could not achieve the desired growth under him as he was used as a “puppet” by some to promote corruption and nepotism.
The party also lashed out at Congress leader Digvijay Singh for alleging a link between the BJP and Pakistani spy agency ISI, terming his charge as “shameful” and seeking an apology from Congress’ interim president Sonia Gandhi.
At a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra assrerted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic policy has propelled the country among the top world economies and the Indian economy is doing “quite well” despite a global slowdown.
The Modi government in its six years has laid a “formal foundation” with measures like the GST and tax reforms, he said adding, “He (Singh) was an economist but people behind the scenes used him as a puppet to impose their laws and promote corruption and nepotism. What kind of injustice it did to Indian economy we all know.”
The BJP leader claimed that now the atmosphere is about “Modi hai to mumkin hai” (It is possible if Modi is there) as the prime minister has created a strong economy with good credentials in his six years of rule.
Singh had on Sunday said the state of economy was “deeply worrying” and urged the government to put aside “vendetta politics” and reach out to sane voices and thinking minds to steer the economy out of this “man-made crisis”.
On Digvijay Singh, the BJP accused the Congress of trying to polarise society on communal lines and asked why the opposition MP had to divide people on religious lines while mentioning ISI. In a video, Digvijay Singh was purportedly heard saying at an interaction that the BJP has links with the ISI and that non-Muslims spy more for Pakistan than Muslims.
“What he has said is of concern, shameful and condemnable. It shows his distorted mindset,” Patra said adding Singh is among the “navaratna” (nine jewels) of the Congress who have played a key role in its massive defeat in elections.
In reality, Congress leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Mani Shankar Aiyar and Ghulam Nabi Azad, besides Singh, are “navaratna” of Pakistan and it would be proud of them, Patra said.
