Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh over the TIME Magazine story, and called its criticism to be extremely 'distasteful'.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh over the TIME Magazine story, and called its criticism to be extremely 'distasteful'.
"I think the most charitable way to describe that comment is extremely distasteful. I wonder what he said when he read the article on Vajpayeeji in June 2002. The title of that article if I remember right was 'Asleep at The Wheel' and the last line of that article is something, which Prasad (BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad) should read," said Chidambaram.
It may be recalled here that the Time Magazine had published a story on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in June 2002, the title of which was Asleep At The Wheel. The BJP had gone ballistic over the magazine article then, as it asked whether Atal Behari Vajpayee's failing health still makes him the ideal guy to govern India.
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad earlier in the day demanded Prime Minister Dr. Singh's resignation over the TIME Magazine article, which dubbed him as an 'underachiever'. Taking a sarcastic dig at Prime Minister, Prasad said the reputed magazine has reflected the voice of the people of India.
"He is a Prime Minister of nine years, not nine months. With the nine years of misgovernanace, Manmohan Singh must step down," said Prasad.
"It's unfortunate for the country that its economist Prime Minister has been dubbed as an underachiever by the same magazine which had earlier given him 19th position in the annual list of 100 most influential people," he added.
Chidambaram further said the UPA-2 Government will battle all troughs and bring the country back to higher economic growth.
"I think we make too much of magazine articles. But the short answer to your question can the Prime Minister rouse himself, the answer is yes, this government will take India out of the present trough and we will get back to high growth," said Chidambaram.
"Its an article in a magazine. It is one among several magazines in the world. And what does the article say, it recalls the splendid achievements of UPA-1 and then says UPA-2, it gives its views, and says can the Prime Minister rouse himself. The answer is of course, we are confident that we will get out of this trough and we will get back to the high growth. That's the answer to the TIME Magazine article," he added.
The TIME Magazine has also raised questions on Manmohan Singh's ability to act in the face of slowing growth, widespread charges of policy inaction and the unpopularity of business reforms.
"India needs a robot. Is Prime Minister Manmohan Singh up to the job?" asked the weekly magazine
"The laws that could help create growth and jobs are stuck in parliament, sparking concerns that politicians have lost the plot in their focus on short-term populist measures that will win votes," said the magazine, while criticizing the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre
"India is stalling. To turn it around, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh must emerge from his private and political gloom," the magazine said, while calling the Prime Minister 'a man in shadow.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}