Getty Images Manmohan Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman

Former Prime Minister and economist Manmohan Singh hit out at BJP-led central government over India’s economic slowdown, saying it was unable to find solutions and was obsessed with blaming the Opposition. Singh also partially responded to comments made by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who has blamed Singh and former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan for the bad loans India’s public sector banks are struggling with.

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“I have just seen the statements by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. I won’t like to comment on that statement, but before one can fix the economy, one needs a correct diagnosis of its ailments and their causes. The government is obsessed with trying to fix blame on its opponent, thus it is unable to find a solution that will ensure the revival of the economy,” Singh said at a press conference in Mumbai on Thursday. Singh said the Congress did not need a certificate on patriotism from BJP-RSS. The economist also said the economic slowdown and the government’s apathy were affecting the aspirations and future of Indians.

“Business sentiments are down across Maharashtra, many units face closure. Maharashtra has the highest factory shutdowns in the last five years,” he said. The BJP government’s obsession with low inflation was inflicting misery on farmers, he added. “The BJP government at the Centre and in Maharashtra are unwilling to adopt people-friendly policies,” Singh said. Maharashtra will be voting for a new government in the state elections on October 21.