NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India launched a scathing attack on the opposition candidate for the top post, Narendra Modi, on Friday.

He said it would be disastrous for the country to have Modi as the prime minister, describing Gujarat’s chief minister as “someone who has presided over the mass massacre of citizens on the streets of Ahmedabad.”

Singh, 81, ruled out a third term for himself even if the Congress wins the national election, due by May.

The prime minister said he believes his party’s vice-president, 43-year-old Rahul Gandhi, is the best candidate for prime minister.

As finance minister 22 years ago, Singh deftly ushered in reforms of a state-shackled economy that helped launch years of rapid growth. But on Friday, with growth at a decade-low, he conceded that the government had failed to generate employment in manufacturing, to control inflation and combat corruption.

Those problems will make it a difficult election for Rahul, who has largely failed to win votes for his party when campaigning in state elections, if he is chosen to lead the Congress into the vote.

“In a few months’ time, after the general election, I will hand the baton over to a new prime minister,” Singh said at a rare news conference, adding a “new generation” would guide the country.

Singh, who was widely expected to step down after the vote, said Rahul should be the Congress party’s prime ministerial candidate.

“Rahul Gandhi has outstanding credentials to be nominated as the ... candidate and I hope our party will take that decision at an appropriate time.”

The Congress is due to hold a top-level meeting on Jan. 17 and is expected to announce its candidate soon afterwards.

Singh made a pointed reference to the riots under Modi’s watch when dismissing a suggestion that he had been a weak prime minister.

“If by strong prime minister you mean that you preside over the mass massacre of innocent citizens in the streets ... I do not believe that sort of strength this country needs. Least of all in its prime minister,” Singh said.

BJP leaders were quick to condemn the comments. Spokeswoman Nirmala Sitharaman said on her Twitter account she was “utterly disappointed” by Singh’s remarks and a senior party leader Arun Jaitley said Modi’s three election wins to become chief minister of Gujarat proved he had voter support.

In response to Singh’s remarks, the BJP’s Shahnawaz Hussain tweeted: “PM says @narendramodi becoming PM will be disastrous. Mr PM it was your 10 yrs that hv been disastrous for India & its people(sic).”