NEW DELHI, Aug 9: Former Indian Foreign Minister Kunwar Natwar Singh, suspended by the Congress party for breach of discipline, has hit back by calling Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a “weak and indecisive” leader who was unable to stand by his colleagues in times of difficulty.

“It gives me no pleasure to say that he is a weak prime minister, unable to stand by his colleagues,” he told a TV channel a day after his suspension from the Congress for misusing his position to get Iraqi oil contracts for people close to him. “He (the prime minister) has no backbone.”

He said: “I have worked with him for 40 years... he knew nothing of foreign affairs... when I am in difficulty he does not have the courage or camaraderie to say something in my favour.”

Mr Singh alleged that two ministers in the Manmohan Singh cabinet had hatched a conspiracy against him. Asked whether he was hinting at Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Science Minister Kapil Sibal, he said: “It is for you to draw your own conclusion.”

Mr Sibal was aide-de-camp to US President George W. Bush during his March visit to Delhi.