New Delhi : A scathing attack on the sincerity and intentions of the Prime Minister and top leaders is the last thing the BJP needed just days before the first anniversary of the Narendra Modi-led govt. Call it the enemy within or whatever, the troika of Arun Shourie, Subramaniam Swamy and Ram Jethmalani has attempted to puncture the rosy picture being prepared by the govt and the party to showcase their achievements of one year.
While downplaying Shourie’s highly critical remarks on PM Modi and the govt, BJP sources admitted that the attack by Shourie, the campaigns run by Jethmalani and the barbs of Dr Swamy are turning out to be a bigger headache than the opposition. Though senior party leaders are quick to point out even as the attacks appear damaging there is slim chance of any effect on the ground.
While Shourie has attacked the ‘trinity’ of Modi-Shah-Jaitley and criticised the govt for its ‘hyperbole’ and ‘headlines’, Jethmalani has been running a sustained campaign in the media against the govt for its ‘U-turn’ on black money. Jethmalani also expressed unhappiness over the NJAC concept. The third face of the troika, Dr Swamy was also critical of the govt on black money. More recently, he openly slammed the PM for the Rafale deal with France and has threatened to challenge it in court. All these three leaders are technically in the BJP and have been part of the decision and policy-making process at some time.
Reacting to Shourie’s allegations, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the ‘timing and motive of the remarks were quite baffling since Shourie did not appear to have ‘substance in any argument.’ I would welcome credible and constructive criticism coming from a scholar like Arun Shourie but he is wanting in content.’ Being a scholar and writer of so many books, he has accused our govt of hyperbole and headlines whereas the headlines came from reputed international agencies, the data is from CSO or other independent agencies and comments have come from world leaders whether it is our development initiatives, our progress vis-à-vis China or inflation, Sitharaman argued.
Meanwhile, the BJP circles are abuzz that Shourie chose to strike before the first anniversary only because he did not find a prominent position in the Modi govt. To prove their point, insiders are reminding everyone of Shourie’s campaign in favour of Modi and his vision just a year ago.
