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Congress Party has expressed disagreement with the Time Magazine's description of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh as an 'underachiever'. Expressing his party's utter displeasure, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari questioned its logic to arrive at such a ridiculous view. "In the past eight years, the UPA Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has provided political stability, social cohesion, internal amity, economic development and a greater role for India in international affairs. This by no stretch of imagination can be called or characterised or labelled as an underachievement," he said. Tewari further asked the magazine, published from the USA , to look at its own country's economic condition before pointing a finger at India and its leadership. "I am astonished at the criticism of India 's economy and financial management by those people whose own country's growth rate is either negative or around one percent. Hence when a country is judged then its context, achievements, leadership provided during global crisis, should all be considered before making such ridiculous statements," he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had on Sunday used the Time Magazine story dubbing Dr. Singh as an 'underachiever' to laud the achievements of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. It may be recalled here that cover of the Time Magazine's March 26 issue featured Modi, with the caption: "Modi means business, but can he lead India ". The Time Magazine has also raised questions on Manmohan Singh's ability to act in the face of slowing growth, widespread charges of policy inaction and the unpopularity of business reforms. " India needs a robot. Is Prime Minister Manmohan Singh up to the job?" asked the weekly magazine. "The laws that could help create growth and jobs are stuck in parliament, sparking concerns that politicians have lost the plot in their focus on short-term populist measures that will win votes," said the magazine, while criticizing the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre. " India is stalling. To turn it around, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh must emerge from his private and political gloom," the magazine said, while calling the Prime Minister 'a man in shadow'.

Congress rebuts Time Magazine assessment of PM