As Congress president Sonia Gandhi declared him the partys Prime Ministerial candidate,Manmohan Singh today launched a scathing attack on BJPs PM candidate L K Advani,calling him an opportunist and questioning his contribution to national welfare. Asked at a press conference about Advanis remark that he was a weak PM,Singh said: Whether I am a weak or strong Prime Minister,actions of our government speak volumes. I dont understand Advani making this charge. I look at his record. I can discuss the prominent role he played in the destruction of the Babri Masjid. What else has he done to the contribution of national welfare? When he was the Home Minister,the attack on Parliament took place, he said,adding that this led to massive mobilisation of troops on the Pakistan border. Without getting any results,we rolled them back. Parliament was attacked,Lal Qila (Red Fort) was attacked,an Indian Airlines plane was hijacked and terrorists were rewarded. This is the record of Advani. He was the Home Minister who presided over the massacre in Gujarat. This country must reflect if he is fit to hold the post of Prime Minister, he said. He was opportunist enough when he went to Pakistan. There,he suddenly discovered new virtues in Mohammed Ali Jinnah. When he came back,his party disowned him,his masters in the RSS and many of his colleagues (disowned him). Is he a strong man or a weak man,let the records speak for themselves, Singh said. His stinging attack on Advani came moments after Gandhi declared him the partys PM candidate,making a departure from the Congresss established convention of not formally declaring a Prime Ministerial candidate before an election. To take on challenges and for the progress of the country,it is necessary that the reins of the country should be in the hands of such a government,which is a symbol of stability,continuity and national unity. In Dr Manmohan Singhji,we have such a Prime Minister who has faith in these values and who has experience and competence. There can be many claimants for this post,but nobody stands close to Dr Manmohan Singhji, Gandhi said in her address at a function to release the Congress manifesto. Asked about the prospects of Rahul Gandhi becoming the Prime Minister,Gandhi flashed the partys manifesto featuring her and the PM on the cover. Covering her own picture with her hand,she said,Dont you see? She ducked queries on prospects of Rahul and Priyanka becoming the Prime Minister,while ruling herself out for the post. Asked whether her decision in 2004 not to hold the post of Prime Minister still holds,she said,I have just said my position remains the same. It is not going to change after election. The Congress partys candidate for Prime Ministership is Manmohan Singhji. Singh also expressed dismay over Varun Gandhis inflammatory speeches in Pilibhit. It was shameful that a young person like Varun Gandhi is endorsing the party (BJP) line. Any party,which puts candidates with such a mindset,cannot do anything for the country, he said. Asked for her comment on Varuns speeches,Gandhi said the PM had already replied and that was the party line. Singh thanked Gandhi and other party leaders for nominating him as PM candidate. Returning Gandhis compliments,he said she was the guardian angel of the UPA who made enormous contribution in changing the destiny of the country. Asked about Advanis contention that only Lok Sabha candidate should become the PM,Singh said the Constitution was quite clear about it and then cited many of his predecessors who were in the Rajya Sabha when they became PM. Mr Advani is inventing new Constitutional norms, Singh said. He,however,ruled out the possibility of contesting for the Lok Sabha. I just had a bypass surgery. I need some time to recover. I dont think I am in a position right now to jump into the election fray.
