NEW DELHI : BJP today targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the “failures” of the UPA-II government in the last four years, saying the presence of two power centres and his “indecision, inability and silence” have led to an environment of “gloom and pessimism” in the country.
In a joint press conference here, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley said there is nothing to celebrate for the UPA-II government on its fourth anniversary.
“UPA-II’s anniversary is being celebrated in an environment of gloom, pessimism and negativism. Rarely has the nation witnessed the kind of cynicism against the government as is prevalent today,” Jaitley said.
The government has failed to provide leadership, keep its coalition together, improve the economy, check corruption, or ensure national security and safety of women, they said.
Attacking Singh, the two senior BJP leaders said power does not vest in the Prime Minister and hence, the UPA model is “structurally defective”.
“Manmohan Singh is the Prime Minister, but (he is) neither a leader of the country nor the leader of his own party. Singh’s colleagues sit with him in the Cabinet and look towards the UPA Chairperson (Sonia Gandhi) for directions. Such a split leadership is the biggest failure of UPA,” Swaraj said.
Echoing Swaraj, Jaitley said, “UPA has devalued the Prime Minister’s post.” He added that Singh’s Cabinet colleagues look at the heir apparent (Rahul Gandhi) for future leadership.
Though the party dismissed the idea of a Third Front as a “failed idea” and said it does not exist, BJP was evasive on questions about the tussle among its leaders for becoming the Prime Ministerial candidate. (Agencies)
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