Manmohan Singh Attacks Narendra Modi: 'No PM in Past Has Uttered Such Hateful Terms

Manmohan Singh criticizes Narendra Modi: 'No previous PM has used such hateful words'

Manmohan Singh accuses PM Modi of using hateful language, urging voters to protect democracy and the constitution from a "tyrannical regime."

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using "hateful, improper terms to target a specific group or the opposition."

In a letter to Punjab's voters before the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha polls on June 1, Singh urged them to use their "one final chance to ensure that democracy and our Constitution are protected from the repeated attacks of a tyrannical regime trying to impose dictatorship in India."

Manmohan Singh said PM Modi "engaged" in the most vicious form of hate speeches. He said PM Modi lowered the dignity of public discourse.

"I have been closely following the political discourse during this election campaign. Modi ji has engaged in the most vicious form of hate speeches, which are purely divisive. Modi ji is the first prime minister to lower the dignity of public discourse, and thereby the seriousness of the office of the prime minister," Singh said.

"No prime minister in the past has used such hateful, improper, and coarse language to target a specific group or the opposition. He has also attributed false statements to me. I have never in my life singled out one community from another. That is exclusively the BJP's doing," the senior Congress leader said.

PM Modi had accused Singh of saying that Muslims have the “first right on the country's resources.”

The former prime minister also criticized the BJP for imposing the Agniveer Scheme on the armed forces, labeling it as poorly planned. He accused the BJP of undermining patriotism, bravery, and service by limiting their value to just four years, highlighting what he called "fake nationalism."

"Those who trained for regular recruitment were greatly disappointed by the previous government. The youth of Punjab, the sons of farmers, who aspire to serve the nation through the Armed Forces, are now hesitating about enlisting for just a four-year term. The Agniveer Scheme jeopardizes National Security. Therefore, the Congress party has pledged to eliminate the Agniveer Scheme," he added.