"Can a sad and helpless prime minister lead India? India is a growing, resurgent nation. It needs an enthusiastic leader, who is decisive, who can take decisions and implement them," said Arun Jaitley, general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata party, apparently referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's [Images] claim that he was embarrassed and pained about the fiasco over the nuclear deal.

"The issue about a PM being sad and helpless is a cause for national worry," Jaitley asked. He said that the United Progressive Alliance government was paralysed by its inherent contradictions.

His remarks came a day after Dr Singh reportedly told United Progressive Alliance allies that he felt let down by their U-turn on the nuclear deal.

BJP has been attacking Dr Singh and has even dubbed him as the weakest ever prime minister the country has ever had.

Jaitley also ridiculed the prime minister's recent statements that non implementation of the nuclear deal will not be the end of life.

"The prime minister's speech at the Hindustan Times Summit that one has to live with the disappointment but life must go on is a typical Indian condolence message. This speech displays the state of the prime minister's mind," the BJP leader said.

Jaitley alleged that the UPA government has not taken any significant decision in the recent months and dubbed reports about prime minister being embarrassed over the nuclear deal has a 'pathetic spectacle.' (With PTI inputs)