Rajkot: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday exuded confidence that Rahul Gandhi, who is all set to be elevated as Congress president, would be able to lead the country into progress and prosperity and also that under him the Congress party will regain its "past glory"."The youthful vigour and idealism of Rahul Gandhi is now before the public. The People of Gujarat already realize this. I am confident that Rahul will lead the country into prosperity and under him the Congress party will also regain its lost glory," Dr Singh told a press conference here.
Fielding questions on a wide range of issues, the former Prime Minister alleged that there has been huge "inconsistency" in Modi government's policy on Kashmir issue. "I am not aware of any achievement of the Modi government on Kashmir. It has been moved from one extreme to another. One day they have a harsh policy towards people and on the other hand, he has gone to Lahore for dinner with Nawaz Shariff," Dr Singh said, adding - such inconsistency "has hurt" national security. ".....There is no doubt in my mind (on this inconsistent policy)," he said.
To a question on Prime Minister Modi's foreign policy endeavors, former Prime Minister said,"While we do not want to divide the country based on foreign policy matters.....but there are instances wherein the government has taken some steps and these were not necessarily in the interest of our country".Dr Singh also said to conceive dreams that India will turn into a developed country in 'five years' is like a "pipe-dream". "It is unlikely to cross all barriers in five years and emerge as a developed country," the former Prime Minister said.(UNI)