BJP downplays Arun Shourie's comment on PM Modi-led govt

The party said that the PM's priorities are very clear

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday downplayed former NDA minister Arun Shourie's remarks about the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's priorities are very clear.

The focus, it said, is on creating a policy environment which helps in the growth of industries across all sectors.

"All the time, many thinkers, industry representatives and the Congress Party seem to give their own vision, seem to make their own comments and they are entitled to them. For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the priorities are very clear, the focus is on the empowerment of the poor, the welfare of the poor, social security for the last citizen in this country, ensuring transparency in decision-making, eliminating corruption and creating a policy environment which helps for growth in industries and across all sectors," BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao told ANI.

"Whereas, there are many people who would want the government to be pro-business and initiate policies which favour certain big corporates. This is actually a clash of visions and PM Modi is extremely clear. We have been voted in by the people of the country and ensuring that we are able to give the best governance to them is our priority," he added.

Narasimha Rao asserted that the government believes that they are on the right track and is going to work for the welfare of the people of this country.

On Friday, Shourie criticized Prime Minister Modi for his poor handling of the economy, saying the government was talking big on economic matters but nothing was happening on the ground.

He also accused him of ignoring the attacks on the minorities and their institutions by the right-wing groups.

Shourie also questioned the supremacy of the 'Trimurti' (trinity) of Prime Minister Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, saying it had "offended the opposition as well as frightened the members of the party (BJP)".