New Delhi: Days ahead of the Punjab election, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre for spreading "fake nationalism" and resorting to "divisive politics".
He also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and blamed him for undermining his position and criticising his predecessors. He urged the PM to maintain dignity and stop blaming the history of the country for every reason.
"We never divided the country for vested political gains. We never tried to hide the truth. We never undermined the esteem of the country or PM's position. People today are being divided. This government's fake nationalism is empty and dangerous. Their nationalism is based on the British policy of divide and rule. Constitutional institutions are being weakened," said Singh in a video message on Thursday.
He slammed the BJP on a host of other issues, including the India-China standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. He held the Centre responsible for Chinese incursions along the border. He also said that the Narendra Modi government has no understanding of economic policies, which is not limited to the nation alone.
"They (BJP-led government) have no understanding of economic policy. The issue is not limited to the nation. This government has also failed on foreign policy. China is sitting at our border and efforts are being made to suppress it (the issue of incursions)," news agency ANI quoted the former prime minister.
Singh also to a jibe at the government's handling of the Covid-19 situation in the country and its economic policies during the period of the pandemic.
"During this COVID period, the Central government implemented faulty policies. On one hand, people are facing problems due to rising inflation and rampant unemployment, while the current dispensation even after seven and a half years in power instead of resolving the issues of the common man and rectifying their mistakes is indulging in blaming Nehru," he said.
In a message to voters of Punjab, Manmohan Singh spoke about the good work that the Congress party has done in the state. He also brought up the security breach issue related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"People are remembering our (Congress) good work. They (BJP) tried to dishonor the Punjab Chief Minister and people of the state over PM Modi's security breach issue. Rich people are getting richer while the poor people are getting poorer," said Singh.