P M Modi invites Former P M Manmohan Singh for discussion on Economy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invited former PM Manmohan Singh for a discussion on the economy and foreign policy though the two men publicly exchanged barbs earlier in the day.
The meeting at 7 Race Course Road took place hours after Dr. Singh sharply attacked the BJP-led government, raising speculation in political circles on its significance. Especially as Mr. Modi immediately posted a tweet, accompanied by photographs of the two smiling and shaking hands: “Very happy to meet Dr Manmohan Singhji & welcome him back to 7RCR. We had a great meeting.”
Later, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma told that: “The meeting took place at the behest of Prime Minister Modi, who invited Dr. Singh to discuss the state of the economy and foreign policy issues. Dr. Singh arrived at 6.30 p.m.”
Congress sources said there were certain highly classified details of foreign policy that could only be discussed by those who have held – or are holding – the Prime Minister’s post.
Earlier in the day, addressing a National Students’ Union of India convention, Dr. Singh was sharply critical of the Modi government, saying it was “harping” on corruption to divert people’s attention to non-issues. He also stressed that under it, institutions of democracy were under threat and the entire edifice of the welfare state was being dismantled in the name of promoting faster economic growth.
The meeting also came on a day when Mr Modi, in an interview to PTI, dismissing the Congress president’s accusation that the NDA government was controlled by “one person”, said, “perhaps, she is referring to the fact that earlier extra-constitutional authorities were the ones really wielding power.”
Wednesday’s cordial meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Prime Minister Manomoahn was preceded by BJP president Amit Shah taking a swipe at Dr Singh’s statement on corruption: “I accept the PM was not corrupt, but it was his job to ensure the same of his ministers.”
Addressing a National Students’ Union of India convention, the former Prime Minister was sharply critical of the Modi government, saying it was “harping” on corruption to divert people’s attention to non-issues.
He also stressed that under it, institutions of democracy were under threat and the entire edifice of the welfare state was being dismantled in the name of promoting faster economic growth.
Significantly, the former Prime Minister also used the NSUI convention to defend his own record against accusations made by former aides of permissiveness towards corruption in his government: “I have not used my public office to enrich myself, my family members of my friends,” he said.
Dr Singh also took on the BJP for misleading people by talking of a policy paralysis during Congress rule: “When our government left, India was the second fastest-growing economy. When we left office in 2014, in the past 10 years our economy grew at an average annual rate of 8.5%,” he stressed.
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Source:Thehindu
