Saturday, May 2, 2015

Economic policy "directionless", minorities anxious: Arun Shourie

The 73-year-old journalist-turned politician said the one-year rule of Modi is "good in parts", his transformation as Prime Minister is good in foreign policy, but the promised turnaround in economy has 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 said in an interview.

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 eminent 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, Shourie said that it was "all hyperbole". "Such claims are meant to grab headlines but lack substance," he said. Shourie handled the Ministries of Disinvestment, Communication and Information Technology in the Vajpayee government.

"Government is talking big on economic matters but nothing is happening on 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.

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