NEW DELHI: Charging the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government with "complete paralysis of policymaking," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said it was time for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ask himself, "Why am I here?"

"Drift in Government"

Party general secretary and spokesperson Arun Jaitley said the last few days had seen a drift in the Government. So much so that the Prime Minister's ability to lead the country had been called into question.

He charged that the Prime Minister was willing to please any and every pressure group from within the UPA and its supporters.

Even the foreign policy had been "outsourced." In the case of Nepal, it was being run by the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

"Vote bank politics"

Mr. Jaitley accused the Manmohan Singh Government of "sacrificing" the policy against terrorism to further the Congress' "vote bank politics."

Economic reforms had been given up under pressure from the Left parties, and India's independent foreign policy had become hostage to the nuclear deal with the United States.

"One has begun wondering whether Dr. Singh is heading a Congress-led Government or a third front-led government."

The UPA allies and supporting parties were calling all the shots, not the Congress; the agenda was being set by the allies and the Left parties.

He pointed out that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam had opposed divestment in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation. Dr. Singh responded by putting on hold the entire disinvestment process.

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