Tapan Ghosh @abpnewstv I respect Arun Shourie. But here I cant agree with him. Too early to judge Modinomics. He has to neutralize many enemies inside.
| Saturday , May 2 , 2015 |
An Arun says what the other won't- Shourie levels 'directionless' charge at Modi govt, says Big Three making it 'worse' | |
| Radhika Ramaseshan | |
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a Civil Services Day event in New Delhi last month. (PTI) Shourie, who was Atal Bihari Vajpayee's blue-eyed boy as a disinvestment minister in his government, alleged that Modi's economic policy was "directionless", investments had not picked up and the "Make in India" concept would not take off unless labour reforms were ushered in, and debunked as "hyperbole" the claim of a projected 10 per cent growth rate. Modi's monogrammed suit and "silence" on minority concerns also drew criticism.  Arun Shourie Shourie claimed that the triumvirate of Modi, Amit Shah and Arun Jaitley had "offended" the Opposition and "frightened" party members. The view was endorsed, albeit silently, by BJP officials who privately said their lips were sealed ever since Shah became the party president. "We were dying to speak out after we lost the Delhi elections. The fear of Shah forced us to keep mum," a party official said. Shourie charged the trio with creating problems, attempting to resolve them and in the process "making things worse and worse". He had not opened his mouth in all these months, despite his proven penchant for verbally shredding the BJP leadership. Shourie does not hold a position in the BJP. However, during interviews in the immediate aftermath of the BJP's electoral triumph, he had given an impression that he looked forward to working directly in the government or in an allied structure. Nobody in the BJP could tell for sure what Modi thought of Shourie. But it is perceived that even if Modi wished to induct Shourie, others "at the top" reportedly advised him about the pitfalls of taking in an outspoken person who might be a handful to handle. BJP insiders fear that while they can fend off similar charges levelled by the Opposition, Shourie's diatribes could not be dismissed airily, especially because he "still inspires awe in certain opinion-makers". Shourie's articulation also coincides with murmurs among a section of industrialists that the Modi government has not done much on the reforms front. While Shourie conceded foreign policy was Prime Minister Modi's "great success", he critiqued him for a "lack of clarity and even contradictions" on Pakistan and for "marginalising" foreign minister Sushma Swaraj. Shourie added that the pin-striped, monogrammed suit Modi wore during President Barack Obama's visit in January was "inexplicable", "incomprehensible" and a "critical mistake". He was as disapproving of Modi's "silence" on concerns among the minorities over conversions and stressed that when a former high-ranking police officer like Julio Ribeiro "speaks in anguish, you have to listen". The retired IPS officer had written in The Indian Express in March that "I feel threatened, not wanted, reduced to a stranger in my own country". Shourie was not the government's only internal or quasi-internal baiter. The BJP national executive member and RSS favourite, Subramanian Swamy, warned that unless Modi ordered a probe into the acquisition of SpiceJet airlines by Ajay Singh, a party sympathiser, he would move court "very soon". "I will continue bombarding the Prime Minister with letters until he acts," Swamy told The Telegraph. His contention was that the deal between Singh, who was SpiceJet's original promoter in 2004, and the Marans of the DMK political family who had bought the airline in 2010 was opaque. Swamy's principal charges were that the share transaction was clinched at "arbitrarily low and dud prices" and if the idea was to resurrect the "ailing" SpiceJet and protect its assets, Air India could have taken it over. Swamy had threatened to legally challenge Modi's commitment to buy the Rafale combat aircraft from France. "There is no need for me to do that because my original objection was against the purchase of 126 planes. That didn't happen. He (the Prime Minister) went to sign but didn't," he said. To compound the government's discomfiture, Ram Jethmalani released a half-page advertorial in a Delhi paper on April 28, titled, "My frustration about repatriation of black money and contempt for this unpardonable betrayal". Jethmalani, expelled by the BJP in 2013 for attacking Nitin Gadkari who then helmed the party, fired off 12 questions at Jaitley, insinuating, among other suggestions, that the finance minister had "more than normal cordial relations with (P) Chidambaram" and, therefore, never faulted his predecessor for not recovering black money. Asked about the bombardment of the veterans, BJP spokesperson and media cell chief Srikant Sharma said: "For the past 10 years, we lived with such attacks and fought them back too." Sharpshooters like Jethmalani do not have a political constituency but their torment quotient had been proved earlier. Ironically, Jethmalani's multiple-question tactic is something the BJP is all too familiar with - but from the non-business end of the gun. In the 1980s at the height of the Bofors scandal, Jethmalani used to serve up a daily dose of 10 questions for Rajiv Gandhi in The Indian Express, the newspaper that was edited by Shourie then. |
The BJP idealogue praised the government for improving relations with other countries but was critical on Modi's Pakistan policy. "The PM must free himself of the illusion of out-of-box thinking. Handling relations with Pakistan requires steadier thinking," he said.Giving his assessment of the Prime Minister, Shourie said," I like him. He is the only person who can give us leadership."
BJP hits back at ShourieThe BJP condemned Shourie's remarks against PM Modi saying his grouse was because he did not get any position in the new government."Many fair weather friends want to gatecrash a party during good days and turn hostile when that doesn't succeed," party spokesperson Sambit Patra said.Two ministers in Modi's team too hit out Shourie for saying the government's ecomomic policy was directionless."If some individuals probably have some grouse, they don't get some positions, and want to make issues out of non issues, I think they are best left to judge whether they are saying the right thing," minister of state for power Piyush Goyal said.Minister of state for commerce and industry Nirmala Sitharaman urged Shourie to give the government more time befoe voicing any criticism."It is very disappointing that somebody like Shourie, who is a scholar who understands economics, would say that it is directionless within eight to nine months when so many measures have been taken. This government is committed, sincere and inclusive," she said.
The BJP idealogue praised the government for improving relations with other countries but was critical on Modi's Pakistan policy. "The PM must free himself of the illusion of out-of-box thinking. Handling relations with Pakistan requires steadier thinking," he said.
Giving his assessment of the Prime Minister, Shourie said," I like him. He is the only person who can give us leadership."BJP hits back at Shourie
Exclusive: Arun Shourie speaks out on first anniversary of BJP-led NDA government
In an exclusive interview, former union minister Arun Shourie praised Narendra Modi for his efforts as Prime Minister, but slammed the government where the economy and social relations are concerned.
Headlines Today | May 1, 2015
Shourie slams Modi: 10 things he said
IndiaToday.in New Delhi, May 1, 2015
Arun Shourie slams Narendra Modi for poor handling of economy.In an exclusive interview with Headlines Today's Karan Thapar on the first anniversary of BJP-led NDA government on Friday, Arun Shourie, one of the most influential BJP ideologues during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for poor handling of the Indian economy and turning a blind eye to the attacks on minorities by the right-wing groups.Here are the 10 things that Arun Shourie said about Modi government in the interview:
1) The government lacks clear thinking. The government has good ideas but poor in implementation. There is a big gap between perception and promise, and projection and performance. The government must become low profile.
2) Modi's economic policy is directionless. There is no big picture in economy policy. Modi's focus on the economy is like a CM. He should focus more on policy instead of projects.
![Arun Shourie attacks Modi: Govt talking big on economy, but nothing happening on ground]( "Arun Shourie attacks Modi: Govt talking big on economy, but nothing happening on ground")
![Arun Shourie.]( "Arun Shourie.")
3) Modi's foreign policy is a success but India has to follow up on the MoUs. Modi needs to execute policies quickly. China is a principal challenge for India. India's foreign policy is getting reoriented. Modi has to move much faster. Nobody is waiting for us. The US is already feeling impatient.
Keeping Sushma Swaraj on the margins is wrong.
4) Lack of clarity in government on Pakistan. Need a steadier gaze towards Pakistan.
5) Investment has not picked up. The government can't ignore India inc warnings. The government needs to wake up. Investors still have hope but the industrial sector is waiting for concrete moves. The growth claims are only to make headlines and the government only wants to manage headlines.
6) Uncertainty exists over tax regime. Tax regime is confused. The government is alienating the investors. It is backtracking on tax decisions.
7) India needs labour reforms. There was no need for land bill controversy. Ordinances were ill-advised. They led to disruptions. BJP supported the previous Land Bill. Allies were not taken into confidence. Modi must embrace the opposition. No reform can take place without the oppositions' support. The opposition is ganging up against Modi and the BJP is frightening others.
8) Vacancies in critical posts are worrying. Don't know why the posts are not filled. Vital institutions are suffering. Institutions are being starved to death. Institutions are being devalued.
9) The government must respond to minority fears. Govt has failed on assuring minorities. No response to concern of minorities. Alienating minorities is dangerous. The Christians are rightfully upset. PM should speak out often. Modi must speak on critical issues. Modi silent on moral questions.
10) The monogrammed suit was inexplicable, a critical mistake. Don't understand why he wore it.
Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/arun-shourie-modi-government-karan-thapar/1/433260.html
Modi government's economic policy "directionless", minorities anxious: Arun Shourie
NEW DELHI: Arun Shourie, the minister in charge of privatisation in the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, unleashed a scathing attack on the BJP government for what he described as its "directionless" economic policy and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had failed to make the transition from chief minister.
Speaking to Headlines Today, Shourie, widely regarded as a staunch proponent of economic reforms, said a "trimurti"(trinity) of Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was running the party.
Shourie, once tipped to be a member of the Modi Cabinet, said the troika had offended the Opposition and frightened BJP members because of their style of functioning. He also accused the Modi government of turning a blind eye to harassment of minorities by right-wing groups.
Commenting on the controversial monogrammed pin-striped suit that PM Modi wore during his interaction with US President Barack Obama earlier this year, Shourie said he could not fathom the prime minister's actions. "It was inexplicable, incomprehensible and a big critical mistake," Shourie 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 said.
Foreign policy was the only area in which the PM had done well, but even here Shourie felt the Centre lacked clarity on Pakistan. Nor had it come up with out-of-the-box idea on how to deal with India's most troublesome neighbour, he said.
Shourie was at his most acerbic when referring to Jaitley. He referred to the finance minister several times during the hour-long interview and gave the example of projecting Kiran Bedi as Delhi CM candidate which was "seen as a master stroke of master strategist".
The two men are not known to be close and Shourie made no attempt to conceal his antipathy. He criticised actions of tax authorities, who have in recent weeks sent notices asking financial investors to pay minimum alternate tax (MAT) as well as sought to tax Cairn India for a 2006 transaction using the controversial 2012 retrospective amendment provision.
Shourie ridiculed contrasting figures for MAT put about by various officials, which have ranged from. Rs 40,000 crore to just over Rs 600 crore.
'Ordinances ill-advised'
Terming the several ordinances promulgated by the government as "ill-advised", Shourie said BJP should remember it had a 31% vote share in the 2014 elections. "If the other two-thirds get together, what happens to you? This happened in Delhi elections. This is what is happening in Parliament where Opposition has united," he said.
BJP leader Prakash Javadekar tried to downplay Shourie's attack as "constructive criticism". "That is the beauty of democracy, where there is place for constructive criticism," he told ET, adding BJP cherished media freedom and that he had gone to jail for 16 months during the Emergency. Javadekar said the Modi government stood for good governance.
Citing the coal and spectrum auctions, he said allocation of natural resources, a scandal-ridden process during the UPA regime, has been converted into a success under NDA. "That's good governance," he said.
None of the party spokespersons was willing to comment.
'Managing headlines'
A BJP spokesperson ET approached said Shourie's remarks were a case of sour grapes. "He is brilliant intellectually, but unfortunately did not grow up," he said, asking not to be named. It was "extremely childish" on Shourie's part to talk like this, he said.
Shourie, the spokesperson pointed out, was always known to be an ardent supporter of Modi. In an interview to ET immediately after BJP's victory in 2014, Shourie had said: "The political landscape will be completely different in the next few years and Modi is quite the man to accelerate transformation.
He has the will and energy to do it." But on Friday, Shourie was unequivocal in expressing his disappointment. The former minister said management of the economy lacked a big picture and that the government was more concerned with managing headlines than putting policy in place.
About Modi government's claim of putting India on track for 8% growth which may soon rise to 10%, Shourie said this was "all hyperbole". "Such claims are meant to grab headlines but lack substance," he said. One of the key problems, according to him, was that investment hadn't picked up. On investor trust, Shourie mocked Jaitley's defence saying "he is a good lawyer and one should not rely too much on lawyerly things".
NEW DELHI: Arun Shourie, the minister in charge of privatisation in the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, unleashed a scathing attack on the BJP government for what he described as its "directionless" economic policy and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had failed to make the transition from chief minister.
Speaking to Headlines Today, Shourie, widely regarded as a staunch proponent of economic reforms, said a "trimurti"(trinity) of Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was running the party.
Shourie, once tipped to be a member of the Modi Cabinet, said the troika had offended the Opposition and frightened BJP members because of their style of functioning. He also accused the Modi government of turning a blind eye to harassment of minorities by right-wing groups.
Commenting on the controversial monogrammed pin-striped suit that PM Modi wore during his interaction with US President Barack Obama earlier this year, Shourie said he could not fathom the prime minister's actions. "It was inexplicable, incomprehensible and a big critical mistake," Shourie 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 said.
Foreign policy was the only area in which the PM had done well, but even here Shourie felt the Centre lacked clarity on Pakistan. Nor had it come up with out-of-the-box idea on how to deal with India's most troublesome neighbour, he said.
Shourie was at his most acerbic when referring to Jaitley. He referred to the finance minister several times during the hour-long interview and gave the example of projecting Kiran Bedi as Delhi CM candidate which was "seen as a master stroke of master strategist".
The two men are not known to be close and Shourie made no attempt to conceal his antipathy. He criticised actions of tax authorities, who have in recent weeks sent notices asking financial investors to pay minimum alternate tax (MAT) as well as sought to tax Cairn India for a 2006 transaction using the controversial 2012 retrospective amendment provision.
Shourie ridiculed contrasting figures for MAT put about by various officials, which have ranged from. Rs 40,000 crore to just over Rs 600 crore.
'Ordinances ill-advised'
Terming the several ordinances promulgated by the government as "ill-advised", Shourie said BJP should remember it had a 31% vote share in the 2014 elections. "If the other two-thirds get together, what happens to you? This happened in Delhi elections. This is what is happening in Parliament where Opposition has united," he said.
BJP leader Prakash Javadekar tried to downplay Shourie's attack as "constructive criticism". "That is the beauty of democracy, where there is place for constructive criticism," he told ET, adding BJP cherished media freedom and that he had gone to jail for 16 months during the Emergency. Javadekar said the Modi government stood for good governance.
Citing the coal and spectrum auctions, he said allocation of natural resources, a scandal-ridden process during the UPA regime, has been converted into a success under NDA. "That's good governance," he said.
None of the party spokespersons was willing to comment.
'Managing headlines'
A BJP spokesperson ET approached said Shourie's remarks were a case of sour grapes. "He is brilliant intellectually, but unfortunately did not grow up," he said, asking not to be named. It was "extremely childish" on Shourie's part to talk like this, he said.
Shourie, the spokesperson pointed out, was always known to be an ardent supporter of Modi. In an interview to ET immediately after BJP's victory in 2014, Shourie had said: "The political landscape will be completely different in the next few years and Modi is quite the man to accelerate transformation.
He has the will and energy to do it." But on Friday, Shourie was unequivocal in expressing his disappointment. The former minister said management of the economy lacked a big picture and that the government was more concerned with managing headlines than putting policy in place.
About Modi government's claim of putting India on track for 8% growth which may soon rise to 10%, Shourie said this was "all hyperbole". "Such claims are meant to grab headlines but lack substance," he said. One of the key problems, according to him, was that investment hadn't picked up. On investor trust, Shourie mocked Jaitley's defence saying "he is a good lawyer and one should not rely too much on lawyerly things".
Speaking to Headlines Today, Shourie, widely regarded as a staunch proponent of economic reforms, said a "trimurti"(trinity) of Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was running the party.
Shourie, once tipped to be a member of the Modi Cabinet, said the troika had offended the Opposition and frightened BJP members because of their style of functioning. He also accused the Modi government of turning a blind eye to harassment of minorities by right-wing groups.
Commenting on the controversial monogrammed pin-striped suit that PM Modi wore during his interaction with US President Barack Obama earlier this year, Shourie said he could not fathom the prime minister's actions. "It was inexplicable, incomprehensible and a big critical mistake," Shourie 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 said.
Foreign policy was the only area in which the PM had done well, but even here Shourie felt the Centre lacked clarity on Pakistan. Nor had it come up with out-of-the-box idea on how to deal with India's most troublesome neighbour, he said.
Shourie was at his most acerbic when referring to Jaitley. He referred to the finance minister several times during the hour-long interview and gave the example of projecting Kiran Bedi as Delhi CM candidate which was "seen as a master stroke of master strategist".
The two men are not known to be close and Shourie made no attempt to conceal his antipathy. He criticised actions of tax authorities, who have in recent weeks sent notices asking financial investors to pay minimum alternate tax (MAT) as well as sought to tax Cairn India for a 2006 transaction using the controversial 2012 retrospective amendment provision.
Shourie ridiculed contrasting figures for MAT put about by various officials, which have ranged from. Rs 40,000 crore to just over Rs 600 crore.
'Ordinances ill-advised'
Terming the several ordinances promulgated by the government as "ill-advised", Shourie said BJP should remember it had a 31% vote share in the 2014 elections. "If the other two-thirds get together, what happens to you? This happened in Delhi elections. This is what is happening in Parliament where Opposition has united," he said.
BJP leader Prakash Javadekar tried to downplay Shourie's attack as "constructive criticism". "That is the beauty of democracy, where there is place for constructive criticism," he told ET, adding BJP cherished media freedom and that he had gone to jail for 16 months during the Emergency. Javadekar said the Modi government stood for good governance.
Citing the coal and spectrum auctions, he said allocation of natural resources, a scandal-ridden process during the UPA regime, has been converted into a success under NDA. "That's good governance," he said.
None of the party spokespersons was willing to comment.
'Managing headlines'
A BJP spokesperson ET approached said Shourie's remarks were a case of sour grapes. "He is brilliant intellectually, but unfortunately did not grow up," he said, asking not to be named. It was "extremely childish" on Shourie's part to talk like this, he said.
Shourie, the spokesperson pointed out, was always known to be an ardent supporter of Modi. In an interview to ET immediately after BJP's victory in 2014, Shourie had said: "The political landscape will be completely different in the next few years and Modi is quite the man to accelerate transformation.
He has the will and energy to do it." But on Friday, Shourie was unequivocal in expressing his disappointment. The former minister said management of the economy lacked a big picture and that the government was more concerned with managing headlines than putting policy in place.
About Modi government's claim of putting India on track for 8% growth which may soon rise to 10%, Shourie said this was "all hyperbole". "Such claims are meant to grab headlines but lack substance," he said. One of the key problems, according to him, was that investment hadn't picked up. On investor trust, Shourie mocked Jaitley's defence saying "he is a good lawyer and one should not rely too much on lawyerly things".
Arun Shourie attacks Modi: Govt talking big on economy, but nothing happening on ground
Arun Shourie was also critical of the Prime Minister on his Pakistan policy.
NEW DELHI: Former minister in the NDA government and BJP ideologue Arun Shourie on Friday slammed the Narendra Modi government on various issues.
In an interview to 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.
READ ALSO: Day after Deepak Parekh fire, Jaitley defends govt
No change on ground on ease of doing business, HDFC's Deepak Parekh says
"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.
He, however, praised the government on its improved relationship with other countries.
The former minister during the Vajpayee government said government needs to reach out of ministries to look for experts.
In an interview to 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.
READ ALSO: Day after Deepak Parekh fire, Jaitley defends govt
No change on ground on ease of doing business, HDFC's Deepak Parekh says
"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.
He, however, praised the government on its improved relationship with other countries.
The former minister during the Vajpayee government said government needs to reach out of ministries to look for experts.
"Task of leadership is to appropriate failure and distribute success, here it has been opposite," he added.
Published: May 2, 2015 02:12 IST | Updated: May 2, 2015 03:47 IST New Delhi, May 2, 2015
Economic policy directionless, social climate grave: Shourie
The Hindu
Arun Shourie.Asked if the Modi government had done enough to put India on growth path, Mr. Shourie said that it was "all hyperbole."
Arun Shourie, a Minister in the Vajpayee Cabinet, hit out at the Narendra Modi government on Friday, saying its economic policy was “directionless” while the social climate was causing “great anxiety” among the minorities.
Mr. Shourie said the one-year rule of Modi was “good in parts”, his transformation as Prime Minister was good in foreign policy, but the promised turnaround in the economy had not happened.
“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,” he told a private news channel. Mr. Shourie, who is not active in BJP these days, said despite promises, the fears of foreign investors on retrospective taxes and incentives for manufacturing have not materialised on the ground. “They (investors) require stability and predictability,” he said, adding that the concern expressed by banker Deepak Parekh on the situation on the ground should be seen as a “wake-up call“.
Asked if the Modi government had done enough to put India on growth path, Mr. Shourie said that it was “all hyperbole.”
“Such claims are meant to grab headlines but lack substance,” he said. “The government is talking big on economic matters, but nothing is happening on the ground. Delivery is missing,” he added.
In an apparent reference to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, he said the government lacked a stable approach in dealing with investors and that “lawyerly arguments” would not convince them. He was also critical of handling of the tax issues which was keeping foreign investors away. “First it alienated them but now it has made them laugh. You come out as bullies.”