To PM: ‘Canards. Apologise’

New Delhi, December 11

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today lashed out at PM Narendra Modi for “spreading canards” about a recent dinner between some Indian and Pakistani dignitaries and said the PM should “apologise to the nation for his ill-thought transgression”.

He was speaking after Modi accused the Congress of “hobnobbing with Pakistan in attempts to impact election results in Gujarat”.

Editorial: Arrest them all

“I am deeply pained and anguished by the falsehood and canards being spread to score political points in a lost cause by none less than PM Narendra Modi. Fearing imminent defeat in Gujarat, desperation of PM to hurl every abuse and latch on to every straw is palpable,” Singh said in a statement, adding that the PM, with his insatiable desire to tarnish every constitutional office, including that of the former PM and Army Chief, was setting a dangerous precedent.

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In a signed statement, Singh said Gujarat elections were not discussed at the recent dinner meeting, which former Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar hosted. The dinner was attended among others by former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri.

“I reject the innuendos and falsehoods as I did not discuss Gujarat elections with anyone else at the dinner as alleged by Mr Modi, nor was Gujarat issue raised by anyone else present at the dinner.  The discussion was confined to India-Pakistan relations. None of those who attended the dinner could be accused of indulging in any anti-national activities,” Dr Singh said.

The former PM hoped the PM “would show maturity expected of the high office he holds instead of concentrating his energy solely on erroneously conceived brownie points. I hope the PM will apologise to the nation”.

Dr Singh, who attended the dinner along with former Vice-President Hamid Ansari, added that the Congress did not need any sermons on nationalism from a “party and PM whose compromised track record on fighting terrorism is well known”.

“Let me remind Shri Modi that he had gone to Pakistan uninvited after the terrorist attacks in Udhampur and Gurdaspur. Let him also tell the country the reason for inviting the infamous ISI of Pakistan to our strategic airbase in Pathankot to investigate a terror attack that emanated from Pakistan,” Singh added. — TNS

‘Don’t lamely question public service record’

"My track record of public service to the country over the last five decades is known to everyone. No one, including Shri Modi, can lamely question it to gain lost political ground." Dr Manmohan Singh, Ex-PM

‘Must be prepared to answer questions’

"The meeting was a political misadventure... Congress should explain the context of attending the dinner hosted by suspended party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar for Pakistan diplomats. The main Opposition party was expected to follow the national policy, which states that terror and talks cannot go hand-in-hand. If anyone defies the national line, he should be prepared to answer questions." Arun Jaitley, FM