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Manmohan mocks melting ‘Iron Man’

Rahi Gaikwad

Mumbai: In a stinging counter-attack to allegations of him being weak, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday referred to the sequence of events during the 1999 Kandahar hijacking incident and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ‘Iron Man’ was quick to melt on that occasion.

“Mr. [L.K.] Advani has the unique ability to combine strength in speech with weakness in action. This is not the kind of strength we need,” he remarked.

At a press conference here, the usually soft-spoken Dr. Singh created a bit of a stir with his aggressive stance, especially because some of the sternest parts of his comments were released in prepared form up front to the assembled mediapersons, and the Prime Minister merely asked that its contents be considered as read.

Dr. Singh’s attack continued as he announced his belief in substance over style. “…But unlike the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate, I will not be found weeping in a corner while hoodlums tear down a centuries-old mosque. Nor will I be found wringing my hands in frustration while one of my Chief Ministers condones a pogrom targeted at minorities,” he said.

When mediapersons asked him about the call for a debate made by Mr. Advani, Dr. Singh reiterated his earlier response, albeit more eloquently. “I am the candidate from the Congress party. Why should I confer the status of an alternative Prime Minister on Advani? You have my record for the past five years. You should judge me by my performance.”

Dr. Singh said he felt the need to speak out against Mr. Advani’s charges as they continued day after day. “I don’t want Advani to get away with false accusations. I had to be accountable to people. A leader must not mislead the people,” he said.

In response to questions on 26/11, he said his government’s response was indeed strong, in contrast to that of the BJP during Kandahar. He rejected BJP leader Rajnath Singh’s allegation that he was consulted during that episode, as a total untruth.

Referring to comments made in a television interview by Mr. Advani, the Prime Minister said Mr. Advani had stated that he was unaware about the former Union External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh’s decision to go to Kandahar on the hijacked plane. In line with his critique on communal disharmony, Dr. Singh told the media that two events constituted a blot on the country’s secular image. Speaking of his party’s decision to withdraw the candidature of Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, the Prime Minister said some recent protests had led the Congress to change its decision.

Noting the delay in justice with respect to the 1984 riots in New Delhi, Dr. Singh said that frustration was bound to multiply and that a speedy wheel of justice was needed.

Dr. Singh said he agreed with Ms. Priyanka Gandhi’s statement on her brother Rahul Gandhi. Mr. Gandhi had all the qualities to be a good Prime Minister.

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