BJP accuses Manmohan of 'looting and destroying' country

The BJP on Wednesday accused former prime minister Manmohan Singh of "looting and destroying" the country and said his self-defence came at a time when everything had been lost.

Hours after Manmohan Singh rebutted the allegations of corruption and policy paralysis against his government, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Sambit Patra told media: "Manmohan Singh chooses to break his silence when things have already been proved. This ritual of breaking the silence is of not much use. This is silence of self defence when everything has been lost."

"The country's attention was focused on a singular issue for the last ten years and the singular issue on which the country focused its attention was nothing other than corruption because you had pick-pocketed money out of every pocket in this country; you had destroyed this country through corruption, and today, you say that corruption is a non-issue," said Patra.

He went on to add: "Yes, you are right. For you, corruption was a non-issue; for Congress, corruption was non-issue, and that is the reason as to why the people's verdict reflects in the mandate which comes in 2014."

Patra also slammed Manmohan Singh for saying he never used public office to "enrich" himself or his family and friends. "Mr. Manmohan Singh, is it not true that you have used your office to enrich 10, Janpath...?"

Targeting the Congress for its opposition to the NDA government policies, Patra said: "There is a sense of confusion. They are opposing just for the sake of opposition...You say that (our policies) are carbon copies of your policies, yet you say that they are failed policies. That only implies that your policies were failed policies."

Manmohan Singh on Wednesday hit out at allegations of corruption and policy paralysis against his government, and said he never used public office to "enrich" himself or his family and friends.