Fearing Modi, BJP has crowned Advani: Manmohan

Singh declined to comment further on the issue stating that it was an internal affair of the Bhartaiya Janata Party BJP.

Later at a press conference in Ahmedabad, Singh said probably the BJP was 8220;nervous8221; and that was why they had a decision to 8220;fill up a vacant post8221; even before any elections.

Asked who would be the Congress8217; prime ministerial candidate in the next elections and whether he would be in the fray, he said 8220;it will be decided in due course of time by the Congress party.8221;

To a question why the Congress party had not declared the chief ministerial candidate in Gujarat, Singh said, 8220;Congress is a democratic party. People of Gujarat will elect their MLAs and they will decide who will be the chief minister.8221;

Queried about the controversy over the arising out of election speeches and the 8216;merchants of death8217; remarks, he said, 8220;a lot of things are said in the heat of the moment. I do not want to comment on individuals.8221;

The Prime Minister said in his election speeches he had talked about how elections and government could be an agent of change. He said there is an atmosphere of fear in Gujarat, which is not good for the state and dismissed as propaganda that the Modi government alone was responsible for progress.

8220;The Centre has pumped in lot of assistance,8221; he said.

Talking about Gujarat elections, the Prime Minister said, 8220;it is not just Congress, but several BJP leaders like Keshubhai Patel, Suresh Mehta and even the people of Gujarat want to remove this government8221;.

8220;The reason for this is that there is big difference between what the government says and what it does,8221; Singh remarked while addressing a press conference held in Vadodara.

8220;This Modi government does not work on a value-based system,8221; he said while appealing to the people of Gujarat 8220;to join the national mainstream8221; by defeating casteist and divisive forces in the state.

Congress wants to bring together people of all the communities including tribals, Dalits, OBCs, minorities and others in the development process of the state, he added.

8220;Gujarat has latent potential and can become the number one state in the country if Congress comes to power,8221; Singh said.

8220;If Congress comes to power it will look into the misdeeds of the Narendra Modi government,8221; he said.

Speaking on the issue of terrorism, Singh said, 8220;The Central government is not soft on terrorism8221;.

He said the terrorist attack on Parliament, attacks on Akshardham temple and Raghunath temple all happened during the NDA regime. 8220;So to divide the country on the issue of terrorism is not good,8221; Singh said.

When asked about the recent threat of CPM on the nuclear deal, the Prime Minister said, 8220;there are differences on this issue. A committee has been appointed and has been trying for a viable national consensus8221;.

8220;Till this process is over nothing can be said about it8221; he added.