Embroiled in a controversy over Coalgate and 2G scam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was at the receiving end of former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh’s ‘witty assault’. The 75-year-old BJP politician suggested the 80-year-old PM to call it a day and take rest by retiring from politics “in the evening of his life”.
The BJP leader was replying to a question on whether Singh can get a third term as Prime Minister. Singh also quipped that though Manmohan Singh has been Prime Minister for nine years, it looks like he has been there for a longer period.
“He (PM) should himself think of liberating India from him (his rule). After a successful political career, he should now take rest somewhere in the evening of his life,” Singh said.
He even taunted the PM as an underestimated politician and over-rated economist. “A comment was made on Dr Manmohan Singh by somebody several years back. I would not name the person but he said that Singh is seen as an economist way above his capabilities and as a politician people have not been able to understand his political prowess, competence and cleverness,” Singh told reporters.
He went ballistic against JPC chairman PC Chacko for the controversial draft report on 2G scam, which absolved the PM and Finance Minister P Chidambaram of any guilt but pointed a finger at former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
He also contested Congress’ demand for the ouster of three BJP members in the JPC, who were Ministers in the then NDA Government which formed the Telecom policy. Singh pointed out that in the very first meeting of the JPC, he and Sinha had volunteered that if there is any objection they would “happily withdraw” from the Committee.
Singh alleged that Congress demand had come in the wake of 15 JPC members meeting Speaker Meira Kumar to express “total lack of confidence” in Chacko. Singh dismissed this Congress demand as one borne out of “frustration, incompetence and feeble memory”.