New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS): Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led NDA government over the country's economic situation, saying the Narendra Modi government does not acknowledge the word "slowdown".

He said if the problems are not identified today, there will be very little chance of finding credible answers.

Singh made the remarks at the launch ceremony of former Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia's book "Backstage".

The former prime minister also hailed Ahluwalia for pointing out the "good as well as the weak points" of the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

"I think these issues will be debated and should be debated because today, we have a government that does not acknowledge that there is such a word as slowdown. I think this is not good for our country," Singh said.

"If you do not recognise the problems you face, you are not likely to find credible answers to take corrective action. That is the real danger," he said, taking an apparent jibe at the Modi government over the state of the economy.

He said the book will be of great help to the future growth of the country.

Criticising the Modi government, Singh said: "Montek has pointed out that contrary to what the ruling group may say, today, the $5 trillion economy by 2024-25 is wishful thinking. Also there is no reason to expect that farmers' income will be doubled in a three-year period."

He also hailed the role played by former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, former finance minister P. Chidambaram and Ahluwalia, for supporting his liberalisation of the economy in the 1990s and enabling him to carry out the reforms despite resistance from different quarters.