'You are no Modi', BJP slams Manmohan over his 'speak more often' comment

Even as nationwide protests raged in the wake of the Kathua rape case, former PM Manmohan Singh spoke up and advised PM Narendra Modi to follow his own advice and speak more often.

After former prime minister Manmohan Singh hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his long silence over the Kathua rape case and Unnao rape case, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said that Manmohan Singh should not compare his tenure with that of Modi’s, according to media reports. 

Ravi Shankar Prasad said that PM Modi had termed the rape incidents “shameful” and “inhuman”. He further added that when Modi says something, it’s heard and action is taken on it, according to Zee News. “Please Dr Manmohan Singh, don't compare your days with that of Modi Ji's,” Prasad has reportedly said. 

The recent attack came after Manmohan Singh said, "Modi should follow his own advice to me and speak more often," according to The Indian Express. 

Mention must be made that the ruling party had severely criticized Manmohan Singh for his silence over several scams like 2G scam during his tenure. BJP ministers often taunted him as ‘Maun-Mohan Singh’. 

Reminiscing about the criticism, Manmohan Singh hit back and said in an exclusive interview to Indian Express, "I think the Prime Minister should follow his own advice to me and he should speak more often. Through press (reports) I know that he used to criticize me for not speaking up. I feel that the advice that he used to give me, he should follow it himself.”

However, he is also glad that Modi has finally spoken about the incidents. He stressed on the fact that those in authority must speak up in time, so that people do not think that they could get away with any crime. 

Remembering the gang rape of Nirbhaya, Singh said that Congress amended the laws around rape to take necessary steps against atrocities directed to women. 

Talking about Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's reaction regarding the Kathua rape case, Manmohan said, “She could have handled this more seriously, taken matters into her hands right from the beginning and taken a firm stand.”

Facing political heat over the Kathua and Unnao rape incidents, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the country that no culprit would be spared and complete justice would be done. He had spoken at an event in Delhi commemorating the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar   

"Our daughters will definitely get justice," said PM Modi.