Bhatinda (Punjab), Apr 14: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani for his reported statement that he was not aware of the release of militants in exchange for Indian hostages during Kandahar plane hijack episode in 1999.

"Either the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee did not trust him or he is not telling the truth. Youth of India wants to know that how Advani was not aware that his government is to release militants," Gandhi said while addressing an election rally here.

Gandhi also said that the funds provided by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government to Punjab were siphoned off and did not reach to the people.

Gandhi blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of depriving the people of the benefits due to them.

"Manmohan Singh is working in New Delhi for the poor but the people of Punjab are not receiving the benefits of it," he added.

Gandhi also praised Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for his effective leadership for the last five years.

"Manmohan Singh has been running the UPA Government for the last five years effectively. It was a government for the common man. Manmohan Singh is the pride of Punjab, Sikhs and India. He has done a lot for the people," he added. (ANI)