Manmohan Singh was not as tough as PM Modi: Sheila Dikshit

New Delhi: In another embarrassment after Congress leader Tom Vadakkan’s joining BJP, former Delhi chief minister and party’s Delhi unit chief Sheila Dikshit on Thursday said that Manmohan Singh was not as tough as the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi in dealing with terrorism.

“It has to be agreed that Manmohan Singh was not as strong and determined in dealing with terrorism as the current Prime Minister is,” Ms Dikshit said in an interview to a Tv channel, when asked about the then Congress government’s stand after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Ms Dikshit, however, said action taken by Mr Modi was a political stunt.

The comment is expected to ignite a political row as grand old party is already facing criticism over party’s stand on armed forces and India’s air strike on Balakot. Ms Dikshit, a former three-time chief minister of Delhi, was also asked to comment on the “mood of national security” after the air strike and that “people will look to Mr Modi because he is a strong leader.”

In response, she shot back, “What do you mean by national security?”

After her comment caused a political storm, she said in her defence to a news agency, “If something is taken out of context, I can’t say.”

Prime Minister Modi has been attacking the Congress for not taking any action after the Mumbai attack. It has been reported that the Air Force had given the option of carrying out Balakot-like operation but the government did not approve of such action.

The Congress, on the other hand, has accused the BJP of politicising the airstrikes for its own electoral gains.

This is not the first time that Ms Dikshit has made unfavourable remarks about Dr Singh. She had earlier questioned his handling of Commonwealth Games.