I’m alright,will campaign for Congress,says Manmohan

In his first public comments since undergoing heart bypass surgery about two months back,PM Manmohan Singh said he would take part in election campaign.

In his first public comments since undergoing heart bypass surgery about two months back,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he would take part in election campaign and expressed the confidence that his government’s performance would help UPA retain power.

76-year-old Singh,who has gradually started attending official work,said he would be campaigning for Congress as he is alright now.

“I am confident that the people of India will vote UPA back to power on our performance,” Singh said on the sidelines of the defence investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

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This was the Prime Minister’s first interaction with the media since his heart surgery on January 24.

Asked whether he would campaign for the party,Singh said “of course,I am alright.”

Queried whom he considered the biggest rival in the coming Lok Sabha elections,the Prime Minister said,”rivals are rivals,we should not underestimate anyone.”

Varun’s remarks,if true,are very unfortunate

PM Manmohan Singh termed as very unfortunate if the anti-Muslim remarks of Varun Gandhi,who is contesting on a BJP ticket from Pilibhit,were true.

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“He has said he has not made these comments. If these comments are correct,then I think they are very unfortunate,” Singh said when asked about Varun’s remarks.

In reply to another question on the emergence of communal overtones in election campaigning,he said,”communalism and casteism are our major challenges. We have to fight this menace resolutely.”

Gandhi’s controversial remarks drew widespread criticism from within his party and outside and the Election Commission registered a case against him.