Rahul Gandhi refutes charges of a "weak government"

Jorhat (Assam), Apr 21 (ANI): Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi refuted charges of a "weak government" against the UPA Government made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"During elections, the BJP raises new issues and says that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is soft on terror. During their regime, Kandahar hijacking took place and they released terrorists. And the same terrorists had later attacked the Parliament. They don't talk about it, but say that our Prime Minister is weak," Rahul said while addressing a public rally here on Monday.

BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani and Dr. Singh have been locked in a war of words during campaigning, especially over the fact that Advani has labelled Singh a 'weak' Prime Minister.

Singh has lashed back by saying that he should be judged by his actions and not the rhetoric voiced by Advani.

Earlier, BJP spokesman Ravishankar Prasad called the Prime Minister a "glorified caretaker".

"With lot of pain, we have to say this that Manmohan Singh is at best a glorified caretaker of the Prime Minister's post who is keeping the seat warm for other members of the family. This has been proved again and again," Prasad said.

Prasad said that India needs a Prime Minister who rules from the front and is not a stopgap caretaker. (ANI)