Strong in speech but weak in action: PM on Advani
April 13, 2009
Mumbai: Sharpening his attack on L K Advani, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh accused him of being strong in words and weak in action, and said that the BJP's prime ministerial hopeful was "weeping in a corner" while the Babri Masjid was demolished by hoodlums. The usually soft-spoken Singh has traded verbal punches with Advani in recent days but Monday's attack at a press conference in Mumbai was the sharpest.
"He has the unique ability to combine strength in speech with weakness in action," Singh said about Advani, who has been calling the prime minister the weakest India has had and of having "abdicated authority" in favour of Sonia Gandhi.
"Mr Advani likes to call me a weak Prime Minister. I cannot help pointing out that when held to the fire during the Kandahar hijacking, the BJP's 'Iron Man' was quick to melt.
"He agreed to release the terrorists and subjected his Cabinet colleague Shri Jaswant Singh to the humiliation of having to personally escort the terrorists to their safe haven," Singh said in a prepared statement circulated at the press conference.
He said throughout his life he had believed that substance triumphs over style, performance over public relations and hard work over short cuts.
"I am not a sloganeer. I will readily concede that most of my opponents make more rousing speeches. They have more catchy phrases and may run better marketing campaigns.
"But unlike the NDA's prime ministerial candidate, I will not not be found weeping in a corner while hoodlums tear down a centuries-old mosque. Nor will I be found wringing my hands in frustration while one of my Chief Ministers condones a pogrom targeted at minorities," he said in the hard-hitting statement.
Indian Express
I may be weak, but what about you: PM questions Advani
March 24, 2009
New Delhi: In a stinging attack on senior BJP leader L K Advani, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he had played a "prominent role" in the Babri Masjid demolition, presided over Gujarat riots and failed to prevent terror attacks on Parliament and Red Fort as Home Minister. Upset by Advani's allegations that he is a "weak" Prime Minister, Singh hit back by questioning the BJP leader's contribution to the welfare of the country as Home Minister and said the electorate should decide whether Advani should lead the nation.
He also accused Advani of being "opportunist" while praising Pakistan founder M A Jinnah during his visit to Pakistan four years back.
"Whether I am a weak or a strong Prime Minister, actions of our government speak volumes about it," Singh told reporters while releasing the Congress manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Noting that Advani keeps on making this charge, Singh referred to Babri Masjid demolition, terror attacks that took place during previous NDA government and hijacking of Indian Airlines plane while reminding BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate about his performance.
While recounting Advani's record as the Home Minister, Singh said "the country must decide whether this person (Advani) is fit to be the Prime Minister."
The Prime Minister said Advani had played a "prominent role in destruction of Babri Mosque."
"What else has he (Advani) contributed to the national welfare? When he was the Home Minister, attack on Parliament took place, troops were mobilised for 12 months (on the border) and withdrawn without any reason resulting in losses to the tune of crores of rupees, Red Fort was attacked, plane was hijacked and terrorists were rewarded," the Prime Minister recalled.
Singh also said that Advani, as Home Minister, had "presided over massacres in Gujarat (in 2002)."
The Prime Minister said while Advani "led the communal forces, he was opportunist enough when he visited Pakistan and suddenly discovered new virtues of Jinnah that he was a secular man."
Singh took a dig at Advani for what he faced from his party on his return from Pakistan. "The party disowned him at the behest of masters in RSS when he came back. So whether Advani is strong man or weak man, let the records speak for themselves," he added.
Indian Express
Rahul mocks Advani on Kandahar issue
April 13, 2009
Kochi Attacking BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday questioned his credentials as a 'strong leader' saying he was the Home Minister of the country when terrorists were released at Kandahar. Quoting Advani that he did not know about the release of the terrorists, Gandhi, addressing a press conference said, "there are two possibilities. (Either) he is not telling the truth or his senior leader...the PM...Vajpayee did not trust him."
"You should have resigned if the PM did not have faith in you," he said, Gandhi said.
Mocking at Advani, Gandhi asked, "Did he buckle under pressure when Kandahar happened or Vajpayee not believe in him. I want to know which is correct?"
Indian Express
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