Time's evaluation of PM sparks slugfest between Cong, BJP

The controversy started over the recent issue of Time magazine dubbing Singh as an "underachiever", which prompted BJP to hit out at the Congress President who is also UPA chaiperson.

"We would like to make it very clear that Sonia Gandhi cannot escape the blame because she has given the political authority to (Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh on account of which India has suffered because of malgovernance, corruption and under-development," the party's chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Prasad said the magazine has stated only the "obvious". "This is nothing new. The common man of the country has been speaking this for a long time that he (the PM) has practically no achievement to his credit.."

Stung by the criticism, Congress delved into a 2002 article from Time, which spoke of Vajpayee in disparaging terms. (more)