BJP trying to defame Punjab, Punjabiyat: Ex-PM Manmohan Singh
Two days before the assembly elections in Punjab, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged people to vote for Congress in the state and cautioned people against BJP's "divisive policies." Singh alleged that the BJP-led Centre has repeatedly tried to malign Punjab and 'Punjabiyat'. In the name of the Prime Minister's security and during the farmers' protest, attempts were made to defame Punjab, Singh added.
- The former PM made the remarks ahead of the assembly elections in Punjab.
- The Punjab elections will be held in a single phase on February 20, while the counting will be held on March 10.
- This time, the ruling Congress in Punjab is facing a stiff challenge from Aam Aadmi Party.
- In 2017, Congress won 77 of 117 assembly seats.
Singh further said these attempts to defame Punjabis "deeply hurt" him. "The world salutes the bravery, patriotism, and sacrifice of Punjabis, but the NDA government did not talk about any of this," he added. Listing development, agriculture, and unemployment as "challenges" faced by Punjab, Singh added that Congress "alone can provide a solution" to these issues.
Singh said people are facing problems of inflation and unemployment, but the present government is still blaming first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for people's problems, despite being in power for over seven years. BJP government should rather admit their mistakes and rectify them, he added. He further said all those who accused him of "being weak, quiet and corrupt, are now getting exposed.
Criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said, "I feel that the PM's position has a special significance. The PM should maintain dignity rather than blame history to downplay faults." Singh said in his ten years as PM, he spoke through his work. "I never let the country lose prestige before the world. I never undermined India's pride," he added.
Talking about the economy, Singh said, "They (BJP-led government) have no understanding of economic policy," adding that there is "selfishness and greed in the government's economic policy." "For their selfish interest they are dividing people and making them fight," the former PM added.
Singh also accused the government of trying to suppress Chinese incursions at the Line of Actual Control. "This government has also failed on foreign policy...China is sitting at our border, and efforts are being made to suppress it (incursions)." "I hope the PM has understood that foreign policy cannot be conducted by forcibly hugging leaders, swinging on swings, or feeding them biryani," he added.
Singh also accused the Modi government of being a "fake nationalist" and dividing people for political gains. "We never divided the country for vested political gain...People today are being divided. This government's fake nationalism is hollow and dangerous," he said. "Their nationalism is based on the British policy of divide and rule. Constitutional institutions are being weakened," Singh added.
