West Bengal is suffering due to Manmohan Singh's incompetence, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said, a day after he lashed out at the prime minister for rising inflation.
KOLKATA: West Bengal is suffering due to Manmohan Singh's incompetence, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said on Saturday, a day after he lashed out at the prime minister for rising inflation.
"A number of state projects are awaiting Singh's clearance for over a year. I don't know why he is sitting on them. This delay is affecting the development of Bengal," Bhattacharjee told reporters.
"The projects awaiting his approval include a deep sea port, a chemical hub at Nayachar in East Midnapore district, Light Rail Transit, greenfield airport and upgradation of Bengal Engineering and Science University."
The chief minister again accused Singh of failure to control inflation.
"Not only Bengal, but entire India is suffering because of his lack of decision-making power and wrong actions. Take inflation for example. Inflation today shot to 7.61 percent from 7.57 percent. And he is still sitting hand-on-hand thinking what to do. He is not concerned about the common people," Bhattacharjee said.
Addressing a press conference here Friday, the chief minister said Singh had failed to perform his duties and responsibilities as a prime minister on all fronts.
"With all regards to Singh, I must say that he has failed as a prime minister. Besides, after he assumed office, the Congress party lost major elections like those in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
"Singh does not have leadership qualities. If nothing is done now, the Congress will lose the Karnataka polls as well," he said.
Bhattacharjee's attack on Singh Friday had prompted an immediate reaction from the Prime Minister's Office, saying the allegations were unfounded and lacked legitimacy.
Asserting that in the "daily din of politics" such statements are often made, Singh's media adviser Sanjaya Baru said the "country is aware of the record of Manmohan Singh and it is there for everyone to see.
"The Indian economy has never performed more strongly than in the past four years and India's global standing has never been higher than today. The prime minister has made the growth process more inclusive. The facts speak for themselves," he said.
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