Former MP and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam, who switched from the Congress party to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena days before Maharashtra Assembly elections, has landed himself in controversy after he criticised the late former prime minister Manmohan Singh-led governments in a post while paying tribute to the departed soul.

Taking to X on Thursday, Sanjay Nirupam said, "There is no doubt that Dr. Manmohan Singh was spotless, but the paradox is that the government he led for ten years had many stains. Those stains haven't been washed away to this day. Humble tribute to Doctor Sahab."

Sanjay Nirupam's criticism of UPA governments in his tributary post didn't go down well with netizens. His post outraged many social media users who reminded him that he was part of the ruling party at that time and the allegations by opposition parties leveled against the UPA government haven't been proven to date.

Reacting sharply to his remarks, one user said, "There is a limit to shamelessness, Sanjay Saheb. Even on someone's death, you choose to indulge in politics. The BJP itself has many stains that will be exposed when the Congress government comes to power. As for your career, it is already over; you can only survive by continuing such sycophancy. The educated generation of this country will always remember Manmohan Singh Ji."

"These lines seem perfectly fitting for you: 'kadali, seep, bhujang mukh, Swati ek guṇ teen' 'Jaisi sangati baithiye, taiso hi phal din.' When hatred resides alongside animosity, such sentiments are bound to emerge. Political jibes on the demise of a national saint and a great personality are not only inappropriate but also disgraceful," wrote another user.

After facing massive backlash over his post on the former PM's demise, Nirupam put out another tweet defending himself and clarified that he believed that Manmohan Singh was a gentleman, honest and spotless.

"There was no need to run such an extensive campaign against me over this tweet. I have always believed, and still believe today, and will continue to believe in the future, that Dr. Manmohan Singh was a gentleman, honest, and impeccable. However, it must be termed either unfortunate or contradictory that UPA 2 was an utterly tainted government. The Congress forces outside the government that openly tarnished it are the ones responsible, and the consequences are still being borne by the Congress," he said.

"Between 2010 and 2014, we defended the party and the government in TV debates numerous times, but we could not succeed because 'Paap Bhayankar Tha' ( the misdeeds were grave). If Congress continues to deny history even today, its decline is certain to deepen further," he added.