India has been ruled by 'surrogacy': Yashwant Sinha

The ten year rule of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who did not fight any election in this period, is an example of "surrogacy", senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said here today.

"It is true that India is being ruled by surrogacy. There are traditions of the Constitution that have to be maintained," Sinha told reporters on the sidelines of Jaipur Literature Festival.

"Why is this that all our prime ministers were Lok Sabha members first and then continued to be the Prime Minister. When Indira Gandhi became PM, she was a Rajya Sabha member and later became a Lok Sabha member," he said.

Manmohan Singh, unfortunately, is the only Prime Minister who in his long tenure of 10 years has not contested a single election. All of us go back to our constituencies for contesting election, he said.

When asked whether "surrogacy" is a harsh term to be used in this context, Sinha said,"I have used it deliberately, I don't think it its harsh."

Sinha who was here to participate in a session titled 'Conquering the chaos: Empowering the future' told reporters that he is confident that 80 per cent of votes will be polled in BJP's favour in the upcoming elections.

"We are sure of 80 per cent support and we are trying our best to get the support of remaining 20 per cent," he said.

Questioned about the differences between BJP and minorities, Sinha said a "misunderstanding" exists and the minorities have been "misled".

"They have been misled by secular parties. Appeasement is not secularism, and when they will understand this everything will become clear," he said.

On being asked whether the misunderstanding is with the party or Narendra Modi, Sinha said,"it is with the party."