Manmohan a weak PM, charges Natwar Singh

All reports circulating in Delhi about a rapprochement or a deal between former foreign minister K Natwar Singh and the Congress party proved wrong as Singh today stepped up his offensive against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, calling him a "weak" prime minister who was unable to stand by his colleagues in difficulty.

The bets are that he will make equally damaging remarks in the personal explanation that he seeks to make in the Rajya Sabha. On Wednesday, he sent a notice to Rajya Sabha Chairperson Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, seeking his permission to give a personal explanation under Rule 241 at the earliest to vindicate his reputation as a member.

According to official sources, Natwar Singh has to submit in advance a draft of his personal explanation for the Chairman's approval as "it relates to other parliamentarians also" and to avoid any debate on it. He had not submitted the draft till late evening.

A day after he was suspended from the party for misusing his office to get oil contracts for persons close to him and issued a show cause notice as to why he should not be expelled from the party, Natwar Singh launched a scathing attack on the prime minister.

"It gives me no pleasure to say that he is a weak prime minister, unable to stand by his colleagues," he told Karan Thapar in an interview for CNN-IBN.

"I have worked with him (Manmohan Singh) for 40 years ... He knew nothing of foreign affairs ... When I am in difficulty he does not have the courage or camaraderie to say something in my favour."