AMN
NEW DELHI: Former minister in the NDA government and BJP ideologue Arun Shourie today came down heavily on Narendra Modi government saying the government managing only headlines and not doing anything on ground.
In an interview with Karan Thapar for Headlines Today, Shourie criticized the Prime Minister for his poor handling of the Indian economy. Asked if the Modi government had done enough to put India on the path of 8 per cent growth which may soon rise to 10 per cent, Shourie said that it was “all hyperbole”. “Such claims are meant to grab headlines but lack substance,” he said.
Shourie felt there was not enough effort in reaching out to the experts who know the economy.”When someone like Deepak Parekh is saying that nothing has changed, this should be a wake-up call,” he said.
“Govt is talking big on economic matters but nothing is happening on ground. Delivery is missing,” he added.
Shourie said the government seems to be more concerned with managing headlines than putting policies in place. “The situation is like the many pieces of a jigsaw puzzle lying in a mess with no big picture in mind about how to put them together.”
Arun Shourie also made a reference to the controversy that broke out over Modi’s monogrammed suit which he wore during his interaction with US President Obama. “It was inexplicable, incomprehensible and a big critical mistake,” he said. “I fail to understand why he accepted and then wore that suit. You cannot take Gandhiji’s name and wear such a thing,” he added.
Shourie was also critical of the Prime Minister on his Pakistan policy. “Like all previous prime ministers Modi was prone to the belief he could change the relationship. The PM must free himself of the illusion of out of box thinking,” he said during the interview. “Handling relations with Pakistan requires steadier thinking,” he added.