BJP leader Arun Shourie is under fire from the party leadership for his statement on Monday attacking the Narendra Modi-led NDA government. Shourie had said that Indian citizens are already missing the days of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"People say, at least Dr Singh was wise," said the BJP leader during a book launch event, which was also attended by the ex-PM. "I feel there was never a weaker PMO as now."

"There has never been as great a centralisation of functions, not power, of functions in PMO as now," he added.

The event, which was held to launch a book, titled "Turn of The Tortoise", written by former Business Standard Editor-in-Chief TN Ninan, was also attended by Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subranamian and former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran.

On Tuesday, the BJP top brass has hit back, saying that Shourie is disappointed over not being a part of the NDA government.

"These people are influenced by losers and that is why they make such statements. There is no vacancy in PMO as of now. The PMO is working well we don't need any certificate from defeated people," IBN Live quoted BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi as saying.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has come forward to support Shourie's statement, reported IANS.

"I fully agree with Shourie," Gogoi said, ""Modi was so vocal on so many issues in the past. However, when the country is passing through the worst of religious intolerance, why is Modi so silent?"

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