India's ruling Congress party announced Tuesday that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will retain his post if the party wins elections next month. Speaking to media after releasing the party manifesto, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi nixed mounting speculation that her son, Rahul Gandhi, would replace Singh, who underwent heart bypass surgery in January. The normally mild-mannered Singh highlighted the country's economic and diplomatic achievements during his five-year tenure, but also took the opportunity to attack the main opposition, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, saying it fueled tensions between the Hindu majority and the large Muslim minority. “The BJP is out to divide our people,” said Singh, referring to its recent decision to back a candidate filmed threatening Muslims during campaign rallies. He also slammed BJP leader L.K. Advani, recalling his role in the controversial demolition of a mosque and the anti-Muslim riots that occurred when the party was last in power. “A party with that sort of mind cannot preside over the destiny of the country,” Singh said. Sonia Gandhi declined to take the post despite leading the party back to power after protesters objected to a prime minister not born in India. In recent months, speculation has grown that she would install her 39-year-old son to the top post as support for the move has grown in the party. Manifesto pushes rural aide, jobs Congress party said on Tuesday in its election manifesto that it would include a hugely subsidised food scheme in new measures to protect farmers and the poor from the impact of the global slowdown. The proposals announced ahead of the April/May general election included guarantees by law that every family living below the poverty line would be entitled to 25 kg (55 lb) of rice or wheat per month at subsidised prices. Economists may see the policy as a populist measure to win votes. Millions of Indians live in poverty. Congress said it would extend interest relief to farmers and build on the national job guarantee scheme, both seen as potential vote winners. The main battle in the April 16-May 13 ballot will be between a coalition led by the left-of-centre Congress Party and an alliance led by the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which has traditionally been more pro-business. “When I look at the opportunities, I am convinced that this country can move forward on a road to faster, more equitable growth,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at the manifesto launch in New Delhi.
