Manmohan Singh was not as tough as PM Modi: Sheila Dikshit

New Delhi:

Former three-time Delhi chief minister and party’s Delhi unit chief Sheila Dikshit has made some unfavourable remarks about former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh. This is not the first time that Ms Dikshit caused another embarrassment for her party. She had earlier questioned his handling of Commonwealth Games.

Earlier, Congress leader Tom Vadakkan quit Congress and joined BJP. Ms Dikshit on Thursday said that Dr Manmohan Singh was not as tough as the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi in dealing with terrorism.

“It has to be agreed that Manmohan Singh was not as strong and determined in dealing with terrorism as the current Prime Minister is,” Ms Dikshit said in an interview to a TV channel, when asked about the then Congress government’s stand after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Ms Dikshit, however, said action taken by Mr Modi was a political stunt.

The comment is expected to stir a political row as the Congress party is already facing criticism over party’s stand on armed forces and India’s air strike on Balakot. Ms Dikshit, a former chief minister of Delhi, was also asked to comment on the “mood of national security” after the air strike and that “people will look to Mr Modi because he is a strong leader.”

In response, she shot back, “What do you mean by national security?”

After her comment caused a political storm, she said in her defence to a news agency, “If something is taken out of context, I can’t say.”

Not only for this statement today, Sheila Dikshit has been in the news due to one more statement about her. In fact, in the wake of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Delhi-in-charge of the Congress, PC Chacko, is circulating a voice message to the Delhi workers asking whether there should be a coalition the AAP. Sheela Dikshit on this viral audio says that she does not know anything about this message and her opinion has not been taken on this issue. Shee also said that how can this survey be done without asking her.

Prime Minister Modi has been attacking the Congress for not taking any action after the Mumbai attack. It has been reported that the Air Force had given the option of carrying out Balakot-like operation but the government did not approve of such action.

The Congress, on the other hand, has accused the BJP of politicising the airstrikes for its own electoral gains.