Updated
New Delhi, May 27 (Agencies): Former prime minister Manmohan Singh met PM Narendra Modi at his 7, RCR residence on Wednesday evening, hours after the Rajya Sabha MP hit out at the BJP for destroying India’s democratic ethos and accusing him of corruption to divert from the real issues.
Singh had launched an uncharacteristically aggressive charge on the NDA government for re-packaging UPA schemes and suppressing dissent to promote a “biased and communal” view of history but spent over 30 minutes in conversation with the PM.
“Very happy to meet Dr Manmohan Singh ji & welcome him back to 7RCR. We had a great meeting,” the PM tweeted on a day his party repeatedly attacked Singh’s legacy and accused him of being a puppet leader.
The BJP has run a relentless campaign against Singh for allegedly overseeing a spate of corruption scandals – such as the 2G spectrum auction or coal allocation scam – and has accused the former PM of being a silent spectator and taking directions from the Congress party leadership.
"I believe a PM’s responsibility is not limited to not doing corruption himself but to also ensure others are not allowed to do corruption. Under Singh's rule, scams of R12 lakh crore occurred and the Congress cannot run away from its responsibility," BJP president Amit Shah had said earlier in the day.
His comments came after Singh cast doubts on the government’s claim of economic recovery and defended the UPA’s administrative record.
"In the last one year, BJP government has to manufacture, modify some statistical data to show that this last one year has not been that bad for the economy. But their people are of the view that the recovery that they talk about in the last one year is very fragile recovery," he said.
The former PM said the Congress’ policies had led to profound social transformation and unprecedented economic growth to promote a pluralistic, liberal and secular democracy.
"Institutions of democracy are under threat. The entire edifice of the welfare state is now being dismantled in the guise of promoting faster economic growth, whereas they are two sides of the same coin,” Singh said at a convention organised by Congress' student wing NSUI.
Earlier Report
Manmohan Singh breaks silence, denies involvement in scams
New Delhi, May 27 (IANS): Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday hit out at allegations of corruption and policy paralysis against his UPA government, saying he never used public office to "enrich" himself or his family and friends.
"I say in all humility that I have not used public office to enrich myself, family or friends," Manmohan Singh said at the national convention of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) here.
He also said that allegations of "policy paralysis" against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government were "untrue".
"When our government left, India was the second fastest growing economy," he said.
The former prime minister said that "BJP harps on corruption to divert people's attention to non-issues".
"We have been fighting corruption. There will be no compromise on corruption," he said.
Former TRAI chairman Pradip Baijal on Monday alleged that Singh had warned him of harm if he did not cooperate on 2G telecom licenves.
The former prime minister claimed that many of the UPA government's schemes were being repackaged as initiatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
"What the BJP had opposed when we were in power are now being sold as its contribution."
"The Congress party has tried hard to ensure that India flourishes as an open, pluralistic, liberal secular democracy proud of its composite heritage", he said, adding that "this very idea of India is now under systemic assault".
He said institutions of democracy are under threat and the entire edifice of the welfare state is now being dismantled in the guise of promoting faster economic growth.