Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SHS)

Mangalore, Apr 14: Reacting to the recent controversy over Sanjay Baru’s book 'The Accidental Prime Minister' that branded Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as a 'rubber stamp', union minister for transport, road and highways and labor and employment Oscar Fernandes said the PM was chosen to the post by AICC president Sonia Gandhi and both of them worked hand in hand for the progress of the nation.

Addressing a press meet at the Congress election office here on Monday April 14, he claimed that the book has the author’s personal viewpoint on the functioning of the Prime Minister. "However, this was a prejudiced opinion as the PM has only sought the advice of AICC president Sonia Gandhi to run the administration. This is a democratic nation and government is run by the federal structure laid down by the constitution. There is no question of intervention of Sonia Gandhi in the functioning of the PMO when the union cabinet head was selected by her," he said.

He lauded the ten-year regime of the Congress-led UPA and said it was able to translate dreams into reality.
When media persons asked further questions on Baru's book, he declined from commenting and said the PMO has already clarified its stand on the controversy raked by the book.

On BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s marital status, he said Modi should explain the reasons that deterred him from revealing the truth for so long. "Modi has listened to the frequent advice given by Lok Sabha candidate of Dakshina Kannada Janardhan Poojary to file an affidavit disclosing his marital with the returning officer of Varanasi," he said.

He added that India being a democratic country, the people will ultimately decide who they want as their PM.

Replying to charges that Congress was biased in its stand on allegations of corruption against Robert Vadra, he defended the party saying the judiciary was the ultimate authority to decide on the matter. "He (Vadra) would be punished if found guilty," he said.

He rubbished reports of MLAs Vinay Kumar Sorake and Pramod Madhwaraj intentionally refraining from actively taking part in the campaign. He said he would advise the party in Udupi-Chikamagalur constituency to strengthen the campaign.
 
Former chief minister of Goa Luizinho Faleiro who was in the press meet said one should not believe in the so-called Gujarat model of development as the state has been doing poorly in several indicators. "Decline in the rate of employment, malnutrition, and farmers being deprived of electricity are the key problems that are burdening Gujarat," he said.

"The country cannot have a structure of development based on the development achieved in just one state. Gujarat stinks with the memories of 2002 riots in contrast to Modi’s claims of development," he added.