Sanjaya Baru's book on Manmohan a cheap fiction: Congress

New Delhi, April 12: Sanjaya Baru's

was dismissed as "cheap fiction" and the former media advisor to Prime Minister

was dubbed as "an out of job, disgruntled turncoat" by

today as the Opposition latched on to the book to target the ruling party. Congress also accused Baru of serving the political agenda of BJP in the midst of the Lok Sabha elections.

"Baru is an out of job, disgruntled turncoat who is spreading canards to sell his book and gain cheap publicity... Indian National Congress decisively rejects this cheap fiction lock, stock and barrel," party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. Surjewala dubbed Baru as "a rank opportunist, whom he accused of running away from his responsibilities a few months before the 2009 general elections. The Congress spokesman said by Baru's own admission, he wanted the job of Prime Minister's Media Adviser after UPA victory in 2009 - for which he was found "incompetent and rejected."

"He is now minting cheap fiction bordering on absurdity to regain lost relevance." "Baru's current proximity to a strategist of Shri Narendra Modi is well known. Timing of his allegations establish whose political agenda he is seeking to serve," Surjewala said, adding that Congress decisively rejects this "cheap fiction lock, stock and barrel."

Baru said in his book that Manmohan was made ineffective in the UPA II govt

The BJP has used the book to target Congress, saying it has proven true its charge of dual power centre involving Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Singh in which she had the final word. "I have been saying from day one that the PM presides and madam decides. This has been proved by this book now," BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu has said, referring Baru's book 'The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh'.

The book says Singh had been "defanged" by Congress in his second term with Gandhi deciding on key appointments to the Cabinet and to the PMO. The PM, Baru says, seemed to "surrender" to her and to the UPA constituents as the former Media advisor provides an insight into the "cautious equation" between Singh and the Congress President and Singh's "often troubled" relations with his ministers.

PTI