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Only Grabbing Headlines: Arun Shourie Attacks Modi Government

Only Grabbing Headlines: Arun Shourie Attacks Modi Government
DAVOS, Switzerland: Indian minister of Communications and Information Technology Arun Shourie gestures as he speaks during the 'Future of the Global Interdependence' conference, 23 January 2004 at the Congress Center during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. In a speech prepared for the WEF, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced Today he was convening a new business summit in June In New York, to help refocus attention on development issues that have been overshadowed by the Iraq war and the US-led drive against terrorism. AFP PHOTO Philippe DESMAZES (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images)
PHILIPPE DESMAZES via Getty Images
DAVOS, Switzerland: Indian minister of Communications and Information Technology Arun Shourie gestures as he speaks during the 'Future of the Global Interdependence' conference, 23 January 2004 at the Congress Center during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. In a speech prepared for the WEF, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced Today he was convening a new business summit in June In New York, to help refocus attention on development issues that have been overshadowed by the Iraq war and the US-led drive against terrorism. AFP PHOTO Philippe DESMAZES (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images)

New Delhi -- Arun Shourie, a BJP minister in the Vajpayee Cabinet, on Friday hit out at the Narendra Modi government, saying its economic policy was "directionless" while the social climate was causing "great anxiety" among the minorities.

The 73-year-old journalist-turned politician said the one-year rule of Modi was "good in parts", his transformation as prime minister was 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 exclusive interview with Headlines Today's Karan Thapar ahead of the first anniversary of the Modi government.

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.

He was also critical of handling of the tax issues which was keeping foreign investors away. "First it alienated them but now it has made them laugh. You come out as bullies."

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.