New Delhi: BJP today contested Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's assertion that there was no disconnect
between his government and the Congress, saying he was
forgetting the "polite exchange of words" that has been taking
place between ministers and party leaders.
"Looks like the Prime Minister has not done his homework.
If he had done it, then he would not have forgotten the polite
exchange of words between (Home Minister) P Chidambaram and
(AICC General) secretary Digvijay Singh," BJP chief
spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad told reporters here.
Prasad was referring to the spat between Chidambaram and
Digvijay Singh on issues like Naxalism and "saffron terror".
Prasad also referred to the Education Tribunal Bill which
could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha in the Monsoon Session
following opposition by Congress MP K Keshava Rao to Union
Minister Kapil Sibal's move.
The BJP spokesman also wondered how the Prime Minister
could "forget" the manner in which Road Transport Minister
Kamal Nath publicly attacked Planning Commission Deputy
Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
"The PM's advisers should properly brief him" before he
talks to the media, Prasad said.
When pointed out by journalists that Singh, during his
interaction with editors today, had said he was not thinking
of retiring, the BJP leader said, "that the PM has to, at
intervals, remind others of his position is astounding...
Perhaps it is aimed not at the country but at his Cabinet
colleagues."
Asked for his comments on Singh comparing his Cabinet
with that of Jawaharlal Nehru's, the BJP leader said, "it is
ironic that his Cabinet is being compared with that of Nehru's
when the amity is being demonstrated day in and day out".
On Singh's contention that he wants to reduce the average
age of his Cabinet, Prasad said, "It is important that it
works as a good Cabinet, that believes in collective
responsibility and follows his directions."
PTI
First Published: Monday, September 06, 2010, 19:30