Rahul's only credentials are his dynastic qualification, says Venkaiah Naidu

Hitting out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his comments during a recent press conference, BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said Singh should have explained the credentials of Rahul Gandhi when he talked about the Congress vice-president's suitability for the top job.

"He (Singh) spoke about the high credentials of Rahul Gandhi. It would have been better, if he has explained what are the high credentials, except the qualification of dynasty," Venkaiah told reporters in Hyderabad. Making light of the Prime Minister's comments ruling himself out of another term at the office, the BJP leader said people of the country would retire Congress in coming elections.

"The announcement of retirement made by Dr Manmohan Singh was not needed because people have already decided about the retirement of the Congress party. The message from five state elections was loud and clear," he said. Taking exception to Singh's comment that BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi would be a disaster for the country, Venkaiah said, "Yes, Narendra Modi will be a disaster to the Congress party.

Manmohan Singh will be judged as the most ineffective, weak and meek prime minister of the most corrupt government, who pushed India into dark in every sense". The Manmohan Singh-led Congress regime has been marked by low growth rate, high inflation, low foreign exchange reserves and poor show in manufacturing, agriculture, employment generation and hostilities with neighbouring countries, he alleged.

Venkaiah said Modi has emerged as the darling of the masses as people feel he is decisive, dynamic and development-oriented. Asked about Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP's) plan to contest "maximum" Lok Sabha seats in upcoming elections, Venkaiah said the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit would not have any effect at the national level.

"They (AAP) have got every right to contest. At national level, it will not have any effect because national issues are different. Delhi is a city, though it may be a state its composition is different. There also BJP is much ahead. Aam Aadmi Party came second only," Venkaiah said referring to AAP's performance in the recently-held polls and government formation.

Venkaiah said BJP has well-entrenched base and credibility and is not bothered about any new entrant on poll scene. "At national level, we have the cadre, we have the leader, we have past performance, we have the credibility. That's why we are not worried about any party coming into the field or any leader expressing a desire to become prime minister either from South or North," he said.