PA Sangma targets Pranab Mukherjee for economic slowdown

AMRITSAR: BJP-backed Presidential poll candidate P A Sangma today targeted Finance Minister and UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee for the economic slowdown.

"If the rupee is at an all time low, if the international rating for credit has been downgraded, (there is) so much of corruption, who is responsible...?" he asked.

Sangma, who is supported by BJP, AIADMK and BJD, was talking to reporters here during a visit to the Golden Temple.

"You see individually, it is the Finance Minister who is responsible for price rice, for corruption, for devaluation of money and (the issue of bringing back) blackmoney... collectively the Prime Minister and his cabinet, but individually it is the Finance Minister's responsibility," he said.

Sangma, who is pinning hopes on a "conscience vote" and his tribal identity, has virtually dared Mukherjee for a debate ahead of the Presidential poll, saying democracy needs debate on the current economic scenario.

Congress has, however, dismissed as a "non-starter" Sangma's challenge to Mukherjee for a debate.

"The Constitution does not ordain or mandate that the President of India manages the economy of the country. Therefore, the suggestion for the debate is non sequitur (a statement that does not logically follow the previous statement) and non-starter," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari has said.