Intolerance remark: Congress accuses PM Narendra Modi of 'doublespeak'

Congress on Friday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying his remark that intolerance will not be accepted in any part of the country is "doublespeak" as he is a tacit "endorser" and nothing prevented him from taking action against hotheads within BJP. "It is important to remind the Prime Minister that he has neither condemned, nor acted upon number of incidents which involve his party colleagues, his ministers, the leaders of BJP and the RSS," senior Congress leader Anand Sharma told reporters.

Responding to a question at a press interaction in London, Modi had said, "India does not accept intolerance even if it is one or two or three incidents. But for a country of 125 crore people whether it is significant or not, it does not matter. For us every incident is serious. We do not tolerate it." Sharma said since Modi has not taken any action, the only inference or conclusion that can be drawn is that he is very much a tacit "endorser". "It is his characteristic style and an exercise in hypocrisy and double speak," Sharma said while accusing Prime Minister of being intolerant to criticism itself. He said there cannot be a greater contradiction between what the government does and what the Prime Minister has said.

If Prime Minister is serious about what he said abroad, then "What prevents the Prime Minister to ensure the removal of the guilty ministers who have made communal statements? What has prevented Shri Narendra Modi to demand the removal of BJP office bearers and RSS leaders who are indicted, stand exposed and who are complicit in what has been happening in the country?" Sharma, a former Union Minister, said.

The Congress leader said while Modi has been claiming that he has restored the country's credibility, India's views were listened to with respect even before he took over as PM.