Natwar Singh questions the leadership of Congress, says Rahul Gandhi cannot stand against PM Modi

New Delhi: Former External Affairs minister Natwar Singh on Thursday said that there is no one in Congress, including Rahul Gandhi who can’t stand against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

When asked if Rahul Gandhi can challenge the Prime Minister, Singh told ANI. “Do you think so? Will he be able to stand up before PM Modi? Hold a debate between PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi. You saw Gandhi’s interview with a tv channel. PM Modi is an orator. He is fearless and bold. He (Rahul Gandhi) can do nothing against him (PM Modi). There is nobody in Congress who can challenge Modi and take him on because he is a great orator.”

Singh blamed the Gandhi family for the erosion of the Congress party’s base across the country, he also questioned the Congress leadership, “I don’t think so (if the party can defeat BJP). Had they taken & stand but their judgement is bad. They don’t have an advisor but think they are Tees Maar Khan.”

He said that Rahul Gandhi does not hold any designation in the party but continues to call the shots.

“Three people are responsible for the current crisis in the Congress party. One of them is Rahul Gandhi, who doesn’t even hold any post, and he is calling the shots,” Singh told

Natwar Singh’s public criticism of Rahul Gandhi comes at a time when the party is facing a leadership crisis in Punjab and murmurs of discord are also being heard from Chhattisgarh, states where the party is in power with majority. There were also similar murmurs in Rajasthan, where there are differences between Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, but no recent developments happened over the past few days.

Earlier, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had also questioned the leadership of Congress and had said that if they want to win the elections they need to change the leadership soon.