File photo of Yashwant Sinha (AFP)
BJP leaders above 75 were declared "brain dead" when the party came to power last year, senior leader Yashwant Sinha has said in an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"All those who are above the age of 75 were declared brain dead on May 26, 2014," the former finance minister remarked at an industry meet on Tuesday evening, referring to the day PM Modi was sworn in.
"I am among those brain dead," he joked.
Mr Sinha, 82, did not contest the 2014 national election; his son Jayant was given a ticket to contest and is now junior finance minister.
His jibe comes days after another veteran, LK Advani, raised fears of a repeat of the 1975 Emergency, saying he "did not see any sign in our polity that assures me, any outstanding aspect of leadership." The remarks in an interview to The Indian Express were interpreted by rival parties as a swipe at PM Modi.
Leaders like Mr Advani, Mr Sinha and Murli Manohar Joshi were not given any post and taken away from decision-making in a party rejig months after it took power.
Mr Sinha, a former finance minister, made the "brain dead" comment when asked about the difference between the previous Manmohan Singh government and the Narendra Modi regime.
He also appeared to criticize PM Modi's flagship 'Make in India' campaign, saying the focus should be on providing better infrastructure. "Make India' and 'Make in India' will follow," he quipped.
Without mentioning the Lalit Modi controversy and resignation calls faced by two party leaders, Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje, Mr Sinha said the government had to act proactively and ensure that the upcoming Parliament session does important business.