Paddy subsidy issue: Congress attacks Modi, Shah

New Delhi: Latching on to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh's letter to Narendra Modi on paddy subsidy issue, Congress on Monday attacked the Prime Minister saying while he "makes much noise" about farmers' interests, the letter by another BJP leader "exposes the truth".

Party spokesperson Shobha Oza also attacked BJP president Amit Shah for his remarks that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke only to his wife, besides Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and said that they are "cheap" and point towards the "substandard" politics practiced by that party's leadership.

"In order to score political points in Maharashtra and Haryana, the Prime Minister has been trying to paint Congress as anti-farmer and BJP as protector of their interests. The Prime Minister is making all this noise and trying to mislead farmers of Haryana and Maharashtra before elections.

"On the other hand, BJP Chief Minister from Chhattisgarh Raman Singh has written a letter to him to reconsider his directive to stop bonus on paddy procurement keeping in mind the condition of Chhattisgarh's farmers. A direction was given to end the bonus to farmers. This exposes that BJP government is anti-farmer," Oza told reporters at the AICC briefing.

Regarding Shah's remarks against the former Prime Minister, she said, "this is a matter of great shame. BJP's President Amit Shah has commented that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to only two women his wife and Sonia Gandhi.

"It is shameful that BJP is doing such substandard politics and saying such things about someone who is respected worldwide as a statesman".

She said that comment coming the Shah shows what is the mentality of BJP and what "cheap" politics they do.

Addressing an election rally in Jalna in Maharashtra yesterday, Shah had said that Singh always kept "mum" on various issues in contrast to his successor Narendra Modi who is an "articulate" prime minister.

"Manmohan Singh was a 'maun' prime minister whereas Narendra Modi is a 'bolnewala pradhan mantri' (talking prime minister)...Singh was the 'maun' (silent) prime minister propped up by the UPA regime. Singh used to speak only to his wife, besides Congress president Sonia Gandhi," he had said.