New Delhi, April 18: Former Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh on Thursday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that he ‘should follow his own advice to me’ and speak more often. Singh's statement comes after a prolonged silence of PM Modi over the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu's Kathua district and the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl by a BJP MLA in UP's Unnao.

According to a report by Indian Express, Singh was quoted saying that he was happy that Modi finally broke his silence last Friday at an event in Delhi commemorating the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar when he said the “daughters of India” will get justice and the guilty won’t be spared. The Prime Minister further indirectly assured the country that "no culprit will be spared" and that "our daughters will definitely get justice".

The report further quotes Singh saying that Modi’s failure to speak up earlier had allowed people to think that they could get away without stern action and would commit any heinous crime.  "I am glad that PM Modi finally broke his silence. I think the Prime Minister should follow his own advice to me and he should speak more often. Through press (reports) I know that he used to criticise me for not speaking up. I feel that the advice that he used to give me, he should follow it himself," said Singh in an interview to Indian Express.

Singh added saying that people are misusing the authority of government. They think they can get away with it…law and order is the responsibility of state governments. The BJP government at the Centre could send instructions to its state governments to ensure that law and order is properly enforced, and minorities and Dalits and women are treated properly,” he said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi led a midnight candlelight march protesting against the Unnao and Kathua rape cases. Just before Singh’s statement on PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday morning had urged the PM to break his silence as it was unacceptable. Gandhi said "India is waiting” for him to speak.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 18, 2018 12:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).