NEW DELHI: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday lashed out at PM Narendra Modi for allegedly spreading "falsehood and canards" to "score political points in a lost cause."
"I am deeply pained and anguished by the falsehood and canards being spread to score political points in a lost cause by none less than PM Shri Narendra Modi. Fearing imminent defeat in Gujarat, desperation of Prime Minister to hurl every abuse and latch on to every straw is palpable," read a statement by the former PM.
Singh was responding to PM Modi's accusation that Congress leaders had secretly met the former foreign minister of Pakistan and its envoy at suspended party leader's Mani Shankar Aiyar's house.
Continuing the scathing attack, Singh added that the Congress "needs no sermons on "Nationalism" from a party and Prime Minister, whose compromised track record on fighting terrorism is well known."
"My track record of public service to the country over last five decades is known to everyone. No one, including Sh. Modi, can lamely question it to gain lost political ground," he wrote.
He rejected the allegations, saying that he had not discussed the Gujarat elections with anyone else present at the dinner. Instead, "the discussion was confined to India-Pakistan relations," he said.
The former PM demanded that Modi apologise for "his ill thought transgression."
At a rally on Sunday, PM Modi had alleged that the "three-hour secret meeting" was attended by Pakistan's high commissioner, its former foreign minister, former PM Manmohan Singh, and former Vice-President Hamid Ansari.
He had further charged that the Congress and certain entities in Pakistan may be working together to prevent the BJP from winning Gujarat.
Earlier today, the Congress responded by calling the BJP the real colluder, as it was the latter's government that gave Pakistani intelligence officials access to India's top air force base in Pathankot after the terror attack there.
It also hit out at PM Modi for his "highly irresponsible comments," clarifying that the meeting was actually a social event attended by top dignitaries, diplomats and even the former Army chief.
Later in the day, the party also tweeted a guest list from the "discussion on India-Pakistan relations" held on December 6, which included Aiyar, his wife, the former PM, the former VP, former Army chief General Deepak Kapoor, and the Pakistani high commissioner.
Image: Twitter/INCIndia
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, too, chimed in, asking PM Modi to take requisite action if he believes Pakistan is interfering in India's internal affairs.
"If PM honestly believes then he must immediately take action. He must direct NIA to arrest them because if he believes that Pakistan is interfering, then tell NIA. Why doesn't he use Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or NSA," ANI quoted him as saying.
"I am deeply pained and anguished by the falsehood and canards being spread to score political points in a lost cause by none less than PM Shri Narendra Modi. Fearing imminent defeat in Gujarat, desperation of Prime Minister to hurl every abuse and latch on to every straw is palpable," read a statement by the former PM.
Singh was responding to PM Modi's accusation that Congress leaders had secretly met the former foreign minister of Pakistan and its envoy at suspended party leader's Mani Shankar Aiyar's house.
Continuing the scathing attack, Singh added that the Congress "needs no sermons on "Nationalism" from a party and Prime Minister, whose compromised track record on fighting terrorism is well known."
"My track record of public service to the country over last five decades is known to everyone. No one, including Sh. Modi, can lamely question it to gain lost political ground," he wrote.
He rejected the allegations, saying that he had not discussed the Gujarat elections with anyone else present at the dinner. Instead, "the discussion was confined to India-Pakistan relations," he said.
The former PM demanded that Modi apologise for "his ill thought transgression."
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh issues a statement after reports of him attending a meeting where a Pakistan e... https://t.co/Ko80IyTdrz
— ANI (@ANI)
1512989807000
At a rally on Sunday, PM Modi had alleged that the "three-hour secret meeting" was attended by Pakistan's high commissioner, its former foreign minister, former PM Manmohan Singh, and former Vice-President Hamid Ansari.
He had further charged that the Congress and certain entities in Pakistan may be working together to prevent the BJP from winning Gujarat.
Earlier today, the Congress responded by calling the BJP the real colluder, as it was the latter's government that gave Pakistani intelligence officials access to India's top air force base in Pathankot after the terror attack there.
It also hit out at PM Modi for his "highly irresponsible comments," clarifying that the meeting was actually a social event attended by top dignitaries, diplomats and even the former Army chief.
Later in the day, the party also tweeted a guest list from the "discussion on India-Pakistan relations" held on December 6, which included Aiyar, his wife, the former PM, the former VP, former Army chief General Deepak Kapoor, and the Pakistani high commissioner.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, too, chimed in, asking PM Modi to take requisite action if he believes Pakistan is interfering in India's internal affairs.
"If PM honestly believes then he must immediately take action. He must direct NIA to arrest them because if he believes that Pakistan is interfering, then tell NIA. Why doesn't he use Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or NSA," ANI quoted him as saying.
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