'Quit if you can't govern': BJP tells PM

New Delhi, Jun 21: On Saturday, June 21, BJP asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take a 'final call' on his continuing in office as the week-long crisis in the ruling UPA indicated that people would suffer and feel insecure if governance stood paralysed in the country.

Alleging that the week-long crisis in the ruling UPA had once again demonstrated that Dr Singh lacked authority to take decisions on crucial matters concerning the nation, its economy and security, BJP spokesman Ravishankar Prasad remarked "If you can't govern you better quit, this drama should stop". Mr Prasad said the paralysis was not just confined to Indo-US nuclear deal but shrouded all facets of governance -- management of food economy, administration, foreign policy and national security because of indecision and uncertainty created by the UPA coalition. He said inflation figures touching 11.05 per cent this week had broken a 13-year record which was only a direct impact of the increase of prices of petrol, disel and cooking gas.

If one were to take the cascading effects of the price hike into consideration, the inflation figures will be in the range of 14 to 15 per cent, he said, adding that a two per cent jump in inflation from 8.74 per cent in one week's span was a record in itself. This will play havoc on the lives of 85 per cent population and the incomes of majority of the middle classes will be eaten away by the surging inflation.

He said the Prime Minister had contended that it was not the end of the world if the Indo-US nuclear deal were not to materialise but there were reports hinting Dr Singh wanted to quit his post if the deal is not allowed to be concluded. The Prime Minister's media advisor was neither confirming nor contradicting the reports.

The BJP spokesman alleged that the UPA was a 'coalition of opportunism' where the Left parties had openly declared that they had nothing to do with the Congress but were extending support only to keep the BJP away from power. They (Left) want to enjoy power without responsibility and the nation cannot tolerate such a situation, he remarked.

UNI