Manmohan Singh meets Narendra Modi after scathing attack on govt

New Delhi: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday met his successor Narendra Modi at the latter’s resident at 7, Race Course Road (7RCR) hours after slamming the National Democratic Allianc (NDA) government in an uncharacteristic hard-hitting speech at a convention organized by the Congress party student wing in New Delhi,

“Very happy to meet Dr. Manmohan Singh ji & welcome him back to 7RCR. We had a great meeting,” Modi tweeted later.

Earlier in the day, Singh hit out at the Modi government saying it was “harping” on corruption to divert people’s attention to non-issues. In a scathing attack, Singh alleged that institutions of democracy are under threat and the entire edifice of the welfare state is being dismantled in the guise of promoting faster economic growth.

Under attack over allegations in the 2G scam, Singh, at the event organized by the National Students’ Union of India, asserted that he had “never used” public office to “enrich” himself, his family or friends.

“As far as I am concerned, I can say in all humility that I have not used my public office to enrich myself, to enrich my family or to enrich my friends.

“And still the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government keeps on harping on this theme of corruption just because it wants to distract the attention of the people to non-issues,” he said.

Singh’s statement came in the backdrop of former Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chairman Pradip Baijal’s allegations that Singh had warned him of harm if he did not cooperate on 2G telecom licences.