Congress leader and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh on Saturday termed “Super Gagan Vihari” foreign trips of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who frequently travelled several countries during the first year of the NDA Government.
Replying to a question on Mr. Modi’s foreign trips, Mr. Ramesh said “Gagan Vihari is fine but Mr. Modi is Super Gagan Vihari”.
“The Congress party is not opposed to Modi’s foreign trips per se… After all, the Prime Minister has every right to go aboard. But unlike former Prime Ministers, Mr. Modi has taken domestic politics aboard”.
“Never has Mr. Vajapayee taken domestic politics abroad. Ms. Indira Gandhi or Deve Gowda or V.P. Singh never took domestic politics abroad. Mr. Modi is the first prime Minister and the only Prime Minister to do so. Whether it is Canada, US, China, South Korea or France, Mr. Modi continues to be on election mode. That is our primary objection,” Mr. Ramesh said at a press conference here.
Noting that “Dr. Manmohan Singh has never attacked domestic political opponents abroad, the Congress leader said Mr. Modi should commit international commitments”.
Speaking on five major failures of NDA government, Mr. Ramesh said Mr. Modi bypassed parliament and rarely used to attend the sessions. Out of 53 bills tabled, only five bills were referred to standing committees. Key posting such as the Chief Information Commissioner was not appointed during the last eight months, he alleged.
He said instead of maximum governance and minimum government, the Modi Government demonstrated “maximum arrogance and one man government”.
Noting several ‘U’ turns of the NDA Government, he said Mr. Modi, who had opposed Goods and Service Tax when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, now became a champion of GST.
“Mr. Modi is master salesman of old schemes such as Nirmal Bharat (Now Swachch Bharat), financial inclusion (now Jan Dhan Yojana). “He (Mr. Modi) proved to be a skilful repackage, marketer and salesman” Mr. Ramesh said adding that the NDA Government betrayed the 2014 mandate given by the people.
