Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said he sincerely hoped that PM Modi will apologise to the nation for suggesting that Manmohan and others held a “secret meeting” with Pakistani officials to “influence” the outcome of the Gujarat elections. He called for an apology from Modi as the words are exploding in the backdrop Gujarat election.

Earlier, PM Modi made appalling comments that Pakistani officials met ex-PM Manmohan Singh and Mani Shankar Aiyar at a “secret” meeting. Mr Modi also raised questions about the alleged appeal by former director general (DG) of the Pakistan Army Sardar Arshad Rafiq for making senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel the chief minister of Gujarat. But it seems these comments from Modi are backfiring now.

Manmohan Singh who is known for his silence and calmness, no matter how big is a political issue, this time gave an unusually combative response to PM Modi’s charge. Manmohan Singh said: “I sincerely hope that Prime Minister will show the maturity and gravitas expected of the high office he holds instead of concentrating his energy solely on erroneously conceived brownie points. I sincerely hope that he will apologize to the nation for his ill-thought transgression. Sadly and regrettably, Mr Modi is setting a dangerous precedent by his insatiable desire to tarnish every constitutional office, including that of a former Prime Minister and Army Chief,” the furious former PM said in his statement. “Fearing imminent defeat in Gujarat, desperation of Prime Minister to hurl every abuse and latch on to every straw is palpable,” he added.

It is very clear that Modi’s Pak comments backfired. Several surveys predict neck to neck contest in Gujarat elections between Congress and BJP. Results will be out by 18th December.