Manmohan Singh is lying with a straight face, says Amit Shah

Surat/New Delhi: In a no holds barred counter-attack on Manmohan Singh, the BJP on Wednesday branded the former the PM a “puppet” and accused him of “lying with a straight face” after he charged the Modi government with harping on corruption to divert the people's attention to non-issues.

BJP president Amit Shah who told reporters in Gujarat that “scams” involving Rs 12 lakh crore had been perpetrated during Dr Singh’s 10-year rule and he “cannot run away from its responsibility” by merely saying that he had not “enriched” himself.

“I believe that a Prime Minister’s responsibility is not limited to not doing corruption himself but to also ensure that others are not allowed to do corruption. He has to root out corruption from the system.

Under Dr Singh’s rule, scams of Rs 12 lakh crore occurred and the Congress cannot run away from its responsibility,” Mr Shah said. “Debate is not over simply because you (Dr Singh) do not yourself engage in corruption. A PM is expected to provide corruption free governance,” he said.