Congress slams Modi for remarks in UAE on previous governments

The Congress party on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks during his visit to the UAE about previous governments, saying that he should maintain the dignity of his office.

Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal said Modi should have refrained from articulating his views about previous governments while on a visit abroad.

"There is no problem if he targets previous governments when he is in the country. It is not proper for him to rake up domestic politics abroad," Afzal said.

The official said it was not the first time Modi had taken jibes at the previous government during his visits abroad.

Addressing a roundtable of businesspersons during his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Modi took pot shots at the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance regime, saying he has "some problems in legacy" and that some measures were stalled due to the "indecisiveness and lethargy" of past governments".

"It is my priority to kickstart those things," Modi said.

Another Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha said Modi's remarks were an embarrassment.

"It is abominable that PM Modi continues his pathetic lowbrow jibes at opposition party's when abroad. A huge embarrassment," Jha tweeted.

"Mr Modi, who has a laundry list of gaffes, blunders, U-turns and flip-flops, including on #OROP is talking about indecisiveness," Jha added.

Congress-led UPA was in power for 10 years from 2004 to 2014.