Manmohan slams Modi for ‘dismantling’ Indian economy

Senior Congress leader and Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh attacked NDA Government led Prime Minister Narendra Modi for systematically dismantling Indian economy. Addressing a Press conference in Bengaluru on Monday ahead of Karnataka assembly polls Dr Singh, a renowned economist slammed Modi for systematically dismantling Indian economy, the third largest in the world.  He also presented a report card and  said in just four years, PM Modi's Government has reversed the successes of the UPA Government.

He said “Today, people have lost faith in banking sector, farmers are facing an acute crisis, aspirational views are not finding opportunities. The "virtuous intentions" of the Narendra Modi Government has caused the country massive losses due to its "lack of reasoning and analysis”.

“From above 7 during the UPA Government, the growth figure has dropped despite favourable international climate, low oil prices and the government's "changing numbers" to "present a rosy picture," he added.

For the first time Dr Singh has directly attacked Modi in poll bound Karnataka and blamed Modi for stifling the other voice. He said "No Prime Minister in our country has used the Office of the Prime Minister to say things about his opponent that Mr Modi has been doing day in and day out. It doesn't behove a Prime Minister to stoop so low and it is not good for the country as well."

Karnataka goes to polls on Saturday and crucial for both the congress and the BJP who are betting big on this election as it is seen as preamble to 2019 elections. Election for 224 member house is witnessing a major battle to prove a point of political consolidation.

"Losses the economy suffered due to these blunders have severely hurt our micro small and medium enterprise sector and have resulted in loss of tens of thousands of jobs," said the former PM.

"The economic management of Modi government is slowly eroding the trust of the general public in the banking system. Recent incidents which resulted in shortage of cash in many states were preventable," said Singh.

Singh also talked about absconding diamond merchant Nirav Modi who cheated the public Punjab National Bank of allegedly more than Rs 11,000 crore between 2011 and 2017. The former PM also referred to the fact that Nirav was seen not long ago with  Modi  at an international event abroad. 

85 year old Dr Singh in his scathing attack on Modi government accused the government of increasing petrol and diesel prices by 110 per cent even though the international prices are 67 per cent down. "Through constant increase in taxes the BJP government is projected to have earned over 10 lakh crore. India must demand answers as to what use this money was put to?" he said.  

"He forgets the role of Green Revolution -- it made the nation a net exporter of food grains. The PM doesn't mention the role of liberalising economic policies that have transformed India in the last 25 years.  Right to Information, Right to Education, Food Security Act, MNREGA, Forest Rights Act, grant of Special Status to a region in Karnataka... PM forgets that UPA policies lifted 140 million people out of poverty in 10 years," Dr Singh reminded Modi.

“PM?Modi should practice the advice he gave me. Unfortunately, he hasn’t held a single press conference in four years. It is shocking that the PM?of India stoops so low... I?think no PM?has used this election time to say things in a manner Modi ji has been trying. I?hope he will learn the lesson and not seek to polarise the society in Karnataka” he said commenting on polarisation of masses in Karnataka election.