'Never used public office to enrich myself': Manmohan Singh

Former prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said he had never used his public office to enrich himself, his family or his friends, and added that the BJP keeps on

harping about corruption simply because it wants to detract the attention of people to other non-issues.

"I can say in all humility that I've not used my public office to enrich myself, enrich my family, or to enrich my friends. Still, the BJP government keeps on harping on the theme of corruption just because it

wants to detract the attention of people to non-issues," Dr. Singh said at the NSUI National Convention here.

"What the BJP constantly talks about is that there was a policy paralysis when the UPA Government was there. This is totally untrue. When we left office in 2014, in the past ten years, our economy grew at an average annual rate of 8.5 percent. This is an all time record," he added.

The former prime minister, who led the UPA regime for two terms until it was routed by the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, said the schemes launched by his government are being repackaged and marketed as initiatives of the NDA.

"We had launched many new programs, new schemes, we had put in place many new policies. This had led to profound social transformation and unprecedented economic growth as well," said Dr. Singh.

"Many of our programs are now being repackaged and marketed as initiatives of the Modi government. What BJP had opposed when we were in power, are now being sold as its contribution," he added.

"But this doesn't surprise us, this is the compliment BJP could pay to the constructive work done by UPA Government," he further said.

The NDA Government completed its first year in power yesterday. Prime Minister Modi had expressed happiness about witnessing the nation on "the fast path of development" and added that the world is optimistic about India and enthusiastic about exploring the opportunities that the country has to offer.