Congress attacks Modi even before he is sworn in as PM

The party says that Modi should not forget that there is no conducive atmosphere to have serious talks

The Congress which is readying itself to sit in Opposition has already started attacking Narendra Modi even before he has been sworn in as Prime Minister.

Hitting out at Modi for extending an invite to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his swearing in, Congress officially reminded him, “Ïn the excitement of his swearing in, Modi should not forget that there is no conducive atmosphere to have serious talks. Its OK to have a photo-op with Sharif for the newspapers, but not for any discussion.”

The party has already started compiling a list of all the “loud claims” made by Modi and the BJP, of what they could do should they come to power, including bringing back black money from Swiss accounts, to bait Modi with.

Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed today reiterated from the party’s official platform what party leaders had already started questioning yesterday. “Narendra Modi has invited SAARC heads of state; it is good to have good relations with our neighbours, but there is no precedence of any foreign dignitaries being present at swearing in.”

Ahmed added that Congress policy was also to foster good relations but Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had never visited Pakistan as well as never invited President Zardari or PM Nawaz Sharief because India set the pre- condition that Pakistan should first dismantle the terror apparatus. Ahmed said, “Ïn the excitement of his swearing in, Modi should not forget that there is no conducive atmosphere to have serious talks.”

As for Modi extending an invite to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Congress said, “Tamil sentiments should have been considered” before contemplating such a move.

The Congress ensured that it attack Modi on two fronts, on foreign policy as well as internally on his comment on the CAG. Hitting out at the Prime Minister designate for his recent statement that the CAG reports “should not be used as a tool for political bickering”, the Congress questioned the BJP’s sudden U turn. “All along these past five years, when they were in Opposition the BJP used the CAG reports to derail functioning of Parliament now they reverse their stand.”

The Congress raised doubts about the timing of the statement alleging that the CAG was due to submit a report on the Gujarat government which was likely to be harsh against Modi. Congress questioned Modi’s “double speak.”

Meanwhile, what has pleased the Congress is their Gujarat strongman Shankarsinh Vaghela’s open dare to Modi and the BJP. Vaghela, the Leader of Opposition in Gujarat, had sarcastically urged Modi, now that he had got full majority of 282 seats, to go head and fulfil his promises of building a Ram temple at Ayodhya within the constitutional framework. He also suggested constituting a “committee under yoga guru Ramdev to bring back black money stashed abroad.”

Vaghela, who parted ways with the BJP in 1996 and joined the Congress, reminded Modi “You have said you will bring down inflation by 25 percent over the next six months. We will not ask you any questions till you complete one year (in office). But we will seek answers after one year about inflation.”

The Congress when in power, had been under attack all along for failing to take up issues in time, after the poll debacle appears to have decided to be prompt in hitting out the BJP and Narendra Modi even prior to his moving into 7, Race Course Road.