Manmohan attacks, Advani hits back

New Delhi/Mathura, Mar 24 (PTI) Gloves were off in the
run up to the general elections Tuesday with Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh launching an unusually aggressive
attack on Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani accusing
him of playing a "prominent role" in the Babri Masjid
demolition, "presiding" over the "massacre" in Gujarat and
failing in tackling terrorism.

Hours later, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate hit
back saying Singh's government was run by Congress President
Sonia Gandhi.

"I know Advani repeatedly calls me a weak prime
minister. Whether I was weak or strong prime minster, the
actions of our government will speak volumes. But when I look
at the record of Advani, all I can discover is the prominent
role in the destruction of Babri Masjid. What else he had done
afterwards as contribution to national welfare," he asked.

He was replying to a question at a press conference in
the presence of Sonia Gandhi when the party's election
manifesto was released.

Reserving strong words for Advani, Singh said his
tenure as Home Minister had seen attacks on Parliament and Red
Fort besides the plane hijacking for which terrorists were
rewarded. He asked electorate to decide whether such a person
was "fit" to lead the nation.

Singh said while Advani led the communal forces, he
was opportunistic enough when he visited Pakistan and suddenly
discovered new virtues of (Mohammad Ali) Jinnah that he was
secular.

Taking a dig at him on what he faced on his return
from Pakistan, the prime minister said, "The party (BJP)
disowned him at the behest of its masters in RSS when he came
back. So whether Advani is a strong man or weak man let the
records speak for themselves."

He also hit out at the BJP saying that it was out to
divide the country on communal lines and could not take the
nation forward. He described as shameful BJP's endorsement to
hate speeches of Varun Gandhi.

Stung by the prime minister's attack, Advani shot back
saying United Progressive Alliance Government was not
Manmohan Singh's government but should be called government of
Sonia Gandhi. "It is not run by Manmohan Singh but Sonia
Gandhi."

Launching National Democratic Alliance's election
campaign in Uttar Pradesh, he said, "This is the first time
that 7, Race Course Road (Prime Minister's residence) has no
significance. If there is any important address today it is
10, Janpath (residence of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi).

"In no country such a thing has happened. This is why
I said Singh is the weakest prime minister."

Advani claimed, "If he (Singh) wanted to take a
decision, he will send a minister to 10, Janpath and ask for
Gandhi's clearance."

Addressing a meeting in support of Jayant Singh, the
candidate of Rashtriya Lok Dal headed by Ajit Singh, his new
ally, BJP's prime ministerial candidate said he has seen all
prime ministers from late Pt Jawaharlal Nehru from very near
but "I have never seen such a weak prime minister."