Vadodara, Dec 11: Prime Minsiter Manmohan Singh on Tuesday took a dig at BJP's anointment of LK Advani as its next prime ministerial candidate saying it was done because the party feared "danger" from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

" Modi se khatra tha, isiliye BJP ne Advani ki taj poshi kar di hai (Fearing danger from Modi, BJP has crowned Advani)," he remarked while talking to mediapersons here.

Singh declined to comment further on the issue stating that it was an internal affair of the Bhartaiya Janata Party (BJP).

Dr Singh said, ''It appears from newspaper reports that the central leadership of the party took the decision apprehending threat from (Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra) Modi after the Gujarat Assembly elections.'' Trying to play safe on the Advani issue, the Prime Minister said he had no knowledge about BJP's internal matters.

Downplays ultimatum

Downplaying CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat's ultimatum to the UPA government to end negotiations with the IAEA on the nuclear deal by December-end or be prepared to face a mid-term poll, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the process to build a viable national consensus on the issue was still on.

The PM said, ''In the coalition government formed with the support of the Left parties, there are differences of opinion on the nuclear deal.''

He said a committee appointed by his government ''was looking into how we can once again build a viable national consensus and work out a common strategy which is acceptable to all members of the coalition. The process is still on. Unless the process is concluded, it is very difficult for me to comment on the issue.''