People are suffering due to the faulty policies of the government: Manmohan Singh
In a video statement on Thursday, former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh hit out at Narendra Modi and his BJP government for the sufferings of the people across the country, which he said are due to faulty policies, and also strongly criticised the country’s foreign policy, which has handed the advantage to China.
In his quiet, inimitable way, Dr Manmohan Singh on Thursday, through a video statement, launched a stinging attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for the government’s “faulty” domestic, economic and foreign policies, and the social disharmony being encouraged, all of which have put India in a very difficult situation.
The statement came ahead of the assembly elections in Punjab and the remaining phases of the Uttar Pradesh elections. The former prime minister is recovering from post-COVID complications and could not address any rally or press conference in Punjab.
He hit back at the BJP for disparagingly calling him ‘Maun Mohan’—for his tendency to talk less—by saying: “I am satisfied that I was called ‘Maun Mohan’, and false allegation of corruption was levelled against the government but the nation remembers my good work and the BJP has been exposed.”
He alleged that due to the wrong policies of the government, people are suffering from inflation and unemployment and, over the past seven-and-a-half years, instead of accepting its failures, the government is busy blaming the first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru of the Congress party. He said that there is a gracefulness of the prime ministerial post and blaming history will not lessen the crimes of the present government.
“Today’s circumstances are worrisome. Due to faulty policies of the government during COVID times, people are anguished by a shrinking economy, rising prices and joblessness. But the incumbent government, despite ruling for seven years, instead of accepting and correcting its mistakes, is busy blaming Jawaharlal Nehru for the problems. I believe the position of the PM has a special significance and you cannot escape your sins by blaming history or the country.”
On Punjab he said: “People are remembering our [Congress’s] good work. They [BJP] tried to dishonour the Punjab CM and the people of the state over PM Modi’s security issue. Rich people are getting richer while the poor people are getting poorer.”
He also referred to the standoff with China over Ladakh. “They (BJP government) have no understanding of economic policy. The issue is not limited to the nation. This government has also failed on foreign policy. China is sitting at our border and efforts are being made to suppress it,” Dr Singh said.
The former prime minister took a jibe at his current counterpart for his “surprise” visit to Pakistan in December 2015 for the wedding of the granddaughter of then Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif. “Relationships do not improve by giving hugs to politicians, or by going to eat biryani without invitation. Their nationalism is based on the British’s divide and rule policy. Constitutional institutions are being weakened,” he said.
Manmohan Singh urged people in Punjab to vote for the Congress, arguing that it was the only party that could address issues of development, farmers’ welfare and unemployment.
