New Delhi: Taking strong exception to the CPI (Communist Party of India) General Secretary A B Bardhan's "advice" to the Prime Minister on his Independence Day speech, BJP (Bharatiya Janata party) today (Aug 9) alleged that Manmohan Singh has been reduced to a "puppet" in the hands of UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the Communists.

"Sonia Gandhi would be telling him what to say and now the Communists are also telling him. Singh has been reduced to a puppet Prime Minister," senior BJP leader V K Malhotra said reacting to Bardhan's suggestion.

Addressing reporters at the end of a two-day meeting of the party's Central Secretariat in New Delhi yesterday, Bardhan has suggested that the Prime Minister's Independence Day speech should not contain "bombastic announcements" like during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime but concentrate on priorities of the Government by covering problems of the deprived sections.

Malhotra charged the Congress with "consistently eroding the honour and prestige of the Prime Minister's office".

Meanwhile, party General Secretary Arun Jaitley also criticised the CPI leader's suggestion saying, "it is the Prime Minister's prerogative what is to be said in the address to the nation".

"None of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) allies ever had suggested to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee what he should say in his Independence Day address," he said.