Manmohan Singh, in a rare and stinging attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government today, said the BJP has been in power for more than seven years but still blames first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for every problem.

In a recorded video message that was played at the party’s press conference in Punjab, he said, "On one hand, people are facing problems of inflation and unemployment, on the other, the present government, rather than admitting its mistakes and rectifying them, is still blaming first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for people's problems."

Reflecting on his 10-year term as a PM, Singh said that the position was scary and should not be used to blame history for downplaying faults. The former minister said he instead took blames than undermining India's pride.

Manmohan Singh, 89, said the Congress had never divided the country for political gains or hidden the truth. The BJP, on the other hand, believed in "fake nationalist" based on the British policy of divide and rule, he said.

"I feel that the PM's position has a special dignity and should not blame history to downplay faults. When I was Prime Minister for 10 years, I spoke through my work. I never let the country lose prestige before the world. I never undermined India's pride," he said.

He also referred to the security lapse of Mr Modi’s convoy being stuck on a flyover in Ferozepur last month, saying, “A few days ago, in the name of the Prime Minister’s security, an attempt was made to defame chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and the people of the state. During the farmers’ agitation too, an attempt was made to defame Punjab and Punjabiyat. The world salutes the bravery, patriotism and sacrifice of Punjabis. As a true Indian hailing from Punjab, all these things deeply hurt me.”

Singh also said the government had failed foreign policy, and it is evident, given how China is sitting at the border and efforts are being made to suppress it. "I hope the PM has understood that foreign policy can't be conducted by forcibly hugging leaders, playing on swings or going for biryani uninvited," he lamented.