Modi govt like 'leech' sucking common man's blood: Sidhu

New Delhi: In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had started his political carrier as BJP leader, said on Friday that the NDA government under PM Modi was like a "leech" that was sucking the common man's blood. Speaking to reporters, Sidhu also alleged that public sector firms and banks had suffered massive losses in the past five years due to the wrong policies of the Centre.

"It is written in the Vedas that a government should be like a bhawra (beetle) which sucks nectar from flowers but still, it blooms. The Modi government has become a 'leech' that is sucking the blood of the common man. The common man can't even stand," the cricketer-turned-politician said.

"Public sector companies and banks have suffered massive losses under NDA rule in the last five years due to its wrong policies. The profits of a few capitalists had increased under the Modi government while public sector firms and banks are sinking," he alleged.

He said that the Centre had increased excise duty on petrol and diesel 16 times in the last five years, adding that fuel prices were low during the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government despite high international rates of crude.

However, under PM Modi's rule, domestic fuel prices are touching the sky despite low international rates, he said, adding that PM Modi "ruined" government companies and "favoured" private firms in his five years of rule and accused him of being "anti-national for selling the interest of the nation".

Sidhu also described PM Modi as 'nikamma' (useless) and said that he should stop harping on the issue of nationalism to garner votes and talk about the matters of national interest.

Addressing a press conference, the Punjab Minister further alleged that Modi is the business development manager of Ambani and Adani, as he has favoured them at the cost of state-run firms.

The Congress has been attacking the Prime Minister for "promoting crony capitalism and favouring his industrialist friends". The government has, however, denied the charges.

Sidhu also alleged that while SBI and MTNL are accruing losses, PM Modi is endorsing private companies like Paytm and Reliance Jio.