PTI

New Delhi, Mar 24: Lashing out at L K Advani for describing him as a "weak" Prime Minister, an unusually combative Manmohan Singh today raised questions over the BJP leader's track record, saying it included playing a "prominent role" in the Babri Masjid demolition and presiding over the 2002 Gujarat riots.

In a no-holds barred attack on Advani, Singh said his tenure as Home Minister had seen attacks on Parliament and Red Fort besides the plane hijacking for which terrorists were "rewarded" and asked the electorate to decide whether such a person was "fit" to lead the nation.

Singh also hit out at the BJP, saying it was "out to divide the country" on communal lines and could not take the nation forward. He described as "shameful" BJP's "endorsement" of the hate speeches of Varun Gandhi.

Responding to questions from reporters after releasing the Congress manifesto with party president Sonia Gandhi, Singh recounted Advani's record as Home Minister and questioned Advani's contribution to the welfare of the country.

He said Advani, who led "communal forces", was "opportunist" as he had praised Pakistan founder M A Jinnah during his visit to Pakistan four years back.

With Gandhi seated by his side, the Prime Minister's recounted Advani's track record and said that the BJP leader had played a "prominent role in destruction of Babri Mosque".

"What else has he (Advani) contributed to the national welfare? When he was the Home Minister, attack on Parliament took place, troops were mobilised for 12 months (on the border) and withdrawn without any reason resulting in losses to the tune of crores of rupees, Red Fort was attacked, plane was hijacked and terrorists were rewarded," Singh recalled.

Singh also said that Advani, as Home Minister, had "presided over massacres in Gujarat (in 2002)."

The Prime Minister said while Advani "led the communal forces, he was opportunist enough when he visited Pakistan and suddenly discovered new virtues of Jinnah that he was a secular man."

Singh took a dig at Advani for what he faced from his party on his return from Pakistan. "The party disowned him at the behest of masters in RSS when he came back. So whether Advani is strong man or weak man, let the records speak for themselves," he added.

"The country must decide whether this person (Advani) is fit to be the Prime Minister."

On Advani's charge of being "weak" PM, Singh said "Whether I am a weak or a strong Prime Minister, actions of our government speak volumes about it."