It doesn’t befit PM to abuse political opponents: Manmohan Singh

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday accused the Narendra Modi government of denigrating the credibility of institutions like Parliament and CBI, and the prime minister of misusing his post.

“It does not befit the PM to abuse political opponents,” the Congress leader said at a press conference in Indore, a BJP bastion, and accused Modi of using “unparliamentary words” against the opposition.

Singh said the government’s deal to buy Rafale fighter jets needs a thorough investigation through a joint parliamentary committee (JPC). “Modi is not going in for constitution of the JPC, which gives an impression that something is amiss,” he said, adding this has given rise to a “great deal of suspicion” in the minds of people.


The former PM attacked the government over the demonetisation of high value currency notes in November 2016, which he termed as “organised loot and legalised plunder”, and “flawed” implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) that caused a “great damage” to the unorganised sector. “It is up to the people to get rid of the government which brought them on this disastrous path,” he said ahead of the November 28 assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh.

“The rule of law is under attack. History shall never forgive our present generation if the situation is not changed,” Singh said, alleging corruption was peaking under the Modi government.