Can a 'helpless' man lead nation, asks BJP

Following reports of the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, feeling “dejected and disappointed” after being “let down” by his UPA allies on the Indo-US nuclear deal issue, the BJP today mounted a fresh attack on Dr Singh, saying the “pathetic spectacle” of a “sad and helpless” leader of the country is a cause for national worry.

After dubbing Dr Singh as “the weakest-ever PM” and denouncing him as one having lost his “sense of balance”, the BJP today fired another salvo at him, holding that the nation needs an “enthusiastic leader” who is decisive and not “helpless”.

“The nation needs to reflect on a question - Can a sad man lead a resurgent nation? Neither the Prime Minister nor his office is doing the nation a favour by projecting him as a helpless leader,” the senior BJP leader, Mr Arun Jaitley, said.

Mr Jaitley’s remarks came a day after Dr Singh had reportedly told UPA allies, at their internal meeting ahead of the UPA-Left nuclear panel meet, that he felt let down by the recent “about-turn” on the deal by some of them, even though they were collectively party to the Cabinet’s decision to clear the deal earlier.

Mr Jaitley said recent development have thrown up several important questions in the minds of the people and alleged that the UPA government is "paralysed by internal contradictions" failing to do anything significant in these months.

"Can a sad and helpless Prime Minister lead India? India is a growing, youthful and resurgent nation. It needs an enthusiastic leader who can take decisions and implement them."

Mr Jaitley ridiculed the PM's recent statements that non-implementation of the nuclear deal will not be the end of life. "The Prime Minister's speech that one has to live with the disappointment but life must go on is a typical India condolence message. This displays the state of his mind."