Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said he did not want to get into a slanging match with political leaders and it was better for him to remain “silent”.
“Can’t get into slanging match with political leaders. It is better, as said I earlier, I keep silent,” prime minister said on board after his four-day trip to Tehran.
Manmohan Singh said that he had to maintain the dignity of Prime Minister’s office.
He blamed “lack of cohesion” in domestic politics as one of the reasons why the country was not able to move forward economically.
“We have laid the foundation of 9 per cent growth”, but the international economic downturn has affected India’s economy, he said, adding that “lack of cohesion in domestic politics” was another factor.
He was speaking to reporters on board his special aircraft while returning from Iran where he attended the NAM summit.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been stalling Parliament since last week, demanding that the prime minister resign over coal block allotments.