New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday blamed the NDA government for the economic crisis in the country and said the Prime Minister cannot escape his responsibility and blame his failures on history.
In a video message to voters of Punjab, the former Prime Minister slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for blaming first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for his government’s failures and also accused the BJP of insulting “Punjabiyat”.
“The situation today is worrisome. Because of faulty government policies and Covid pandemic, people are suffering due to economic problems, price rise and unemployment. On the other hand, the government, after being in power for seven and half years, is still blaming it’s failures on the first Prime Minister Pt Jawaharlal Nehru,” Singh said.
“The post of Prime Minister has special dignity, and blaming history does not reduce your own responsibility. As the Prime Minister for 10 years, instead of giving speeches, I let my work speak. We never divided the country for our political benefits. Never tried to hide the truth. Despite difficulties, India’s prestige at the international level was enhanced,” he said.
“Those who accused me of being silent, weak and corrupt, the BJP and its B and C teams, their propaganda has been unveiled in front of the people”. Singh, who is the first Sikh to become the Prime Minister of India, raised the issue of security lapse issue during PM Modi’s visit to Punjab.
“Few days back they tried to defame CM Charanjit Singh Channi and the Punjab government in the name of PM’s security, which is not right. There were attempts to defame Punjab and Punjabiyat during farmers’ protests as well. The valour, hard work and patriotism of Punjabis is recognised across the world. Lot was done to defame them. As an Indian born on the soil of Punjab I feel hurt,” he said.
The former prime minister, who is also an economist, said the government has no understanding of how to handle the economy. “The present government has no understanding of the economy. The nation is facing an economic crisis because of their faulty economic policies. Farmers, traders, students, women, everyone is troubled. The farmers are starving, social inequality has increased, people are under debt, and the rich are becoming richer,” he said.
Singh said there was fault with both “policy” and the “intention” of the government. “Their policies are self centered, and their intention is to divide people. Their fake nationalism is hollow and dangerous. Their nationalist is based on the British policy of ‘divide and rule’,” he said.
Commenting on the India-China border situation, he said the government has failed on the international policy front. “China is sitting on our land, and government is silent about it. Our old friends are drifting away, and our relations with neighbouring countries are getting spoilt,” he said.
“I hope the government will understand diplomacy is not done by forcefully hugging people, riding a swing with them, or by visiting them uninvited,” he said. Singh appealed to the voters of Punjab to vote for Congress, and said it was the only party which can address issues faced by the state. Punjab will go to polls on February 20.Â
