Modi Govt's foreign policy changes faster than weather: Cong

Congress today attacked the Modi government for its "inconsistent" foreign policy which changes faster than the weather and asked the government to end its "knee-jerk" policy with Pakistan and fix problems within the country first before raising issues like Balochistan.
"It has become almost impossible for us to track this government's daily changes in policy. One day, we are talking at Ministerial level, one day we are talking at Foreign Secretary level, one day we are calling off. I am waiting for a stable policy.
"I think the real thing is zigzag, the real thing is consistency, the real thing is the lack of it and the real thing is rhetoric and empty threats. This is the real problem with this Government and with this Prime Minister," Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.

Questioning the government's foreign policy which he said changes faster than the weather, and asked, "What kind of policy is this? This knee-jerk policy needs to stop immediately. We are ready with our support if there is one consistent, stable, long-term policy on these issues."
He said one felt pride when the Prime Minister made "jingoistic" statements about Balochistan, but lamented that it would have no resonance or meaning when things in the country's own backyard in Kashmir are not set right.
He said the Prime Minister spoke about Balochistan in his Independence day speech but nothing about prevailing situation in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The real problem Mr Prime Minister is that you have not sorted out the internal contradictions and paradoxes in your lust for power.

"In J&K within your own coalition, there are irreconcilable paradoxes and unless you extend the healing touch in a proper manner in an integrated policy, we have a huge problem in hand with regard to Kashmir which by the way I must, with great regret, repeat; you did not touch upon in 95 minutes of your speech. What is the point talking about Balochistan?," he asked.
Singhvi said the state chief minister with whom BJP is in coalition, has alleged that the that Central Government is "responsible for all ills" of Kashmir.

"She has further said that you should have a dialogue on this to Pakistan. I hope and trust that is not Government of India's policy," he said.
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On Congress stand on Balochistan as raised by Prime
Minister, Singhvi said the party is not opposing it "but equally we do not want to be hypocritical or superficial on lip service."
He said when "your backyard which is burning; you are not able to deal with it. 40 days of curfew, your State Government is making a direct accusation against the Central Government and you are talking of Balochistan, it created a question mark."

"Let us get real and control our own situation and then talk of Balochistan and have more credibility and more genuineness and more effect," the Congress leader said.
Singhvi said there is no a question of different voices within Congress.
"We believe that when you throw Balochistan as a slogan, as a empty rhetoric, as a name, as a magical formula, we are only playing with people. We do not mean it. You are just fudging the issue.
"If you do it in a serious way, along with solution of the issues internally and being a strong nation, then of course, we will support you but we believe what is happening is nothing but rhetoric," he said.

Singhvi also took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's I-Day speech, saying instead of talking about work culture he should have talked about actual work done by his government and asked him to stop being a "principal preacher".
"Let us look at actual concrete figures on the ground, real achievements - Let us stop being a "Jumla Prime Minister", most importantly - let us stop being "Pradhan Preacher" from the Red Fort. You have turned from a "Pradhan Sevak" to "Pradhan Preacher".
"You have preached ad-nauseam in what many consider it to be repetitive, dull and boring 95 minute address where you touched on several things ad-nauseum and ad-infinition but when we examine with a little bit of clarity, the detailed facts, we realize the huge gap between your claims, your assertions and the real facts on the ground," he said.

Citing examples to buttress his point, he said one fails to understand PM's statement that in two years India will become the third largest economy in the world. While it already is the third-largest by Purchasing Power Parity for many many years now, "in Rupee terms or Dollar terms, we will take decades to become the third largest economy. We are nowhere near it," he said.
Singhvi also said the Prime Minister has not talked about
the exploitative practices on dalits with insulting and abusive remarks by your leaders whom he is unable to control.
"In your 90 minutes address, Hon'ble Prime Minister, you did not touch upon two crucial things of survival for the ordinary 'Aam Aadmi' and that is Employment growth and Rural Income," he said.

On the question of filing a FIR on sedition charges against Amnesty International in Bangalore, Singhvi said "let us be very clear that FIR does not mean that a crime has been established. FIR only is an information the registration. There is no charge sheet; there is no closure on that basis of the FIR."
He said if one were to start filing sedition cases on this basis, one would have to have at least 20 sedition cases every day in all parts of India.
"Amnesty International organized a Seminar, somebody shouts something there, there is nothing else and there is no ingredient of sedition made out. Somebody has filed an FIR and the Government of Karnataka is being accused as if it has accepted sedition. It has not accepted any sedition.

"I think it is time that we cherish the 91-A of Freedom of Speech. Let us cherish the freedom that we have in this country and stop tilting at windmills," he said.