Shourie's comments on Modi personal views: BJP

The BJP on Tuesday termed former union minister Arun Shourie's criticism of the Narendra Modi government's economic policies his personal views, which had nothing to do with the party or public opinion, while also noting he was no longer a party member.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party sources said that Shourie who was being cited as a "BJP leader" had, in fact, not renewed his party membership. Meanwhile, Shourie's office informed IANS that he did not wish to make any further comment on the issue.

Earlier Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said Shourie's views were personal, not of the people or the ruling party.

"We are a democracy; he has his opinion, but the country's opinion is different," he said at a press conference here.

The central government had been doing well and people know about the challenges it had inherited, he added.

On Monday, in a sharp attack on the Modi government, Shourie said: "There was never a weaker Prime Minister's Office than now."

"Dr Singh ko log yaad karne lag gaye hain (People have begun recalling the days of Manmohan Singh). One way to characterise policies of the government is 'Congress plus a cow'. Policies are the same," Shourie said at a book launch function.

A senior party leader, however, said that any comparison between the Manmohan Singh-led PMO and one led by Modi were specious. "People can see the difference. Bihar polls will set all doubts to rest," said the leader.