NEW DELHI: The ruling BJP hit out at Arun Shourie for criticising the Modi government for its slow pace of work. The party Shourie was no longer a member of the party, and was making such comments as he did not get a post in the cabinet.
Senior BJP leader and Urban Development minister Venkaiah Naidu said, “his views are shared neither by the party nor by the public."
“That’s not the perception of the people. I don’t agree (with him). I don’t want to make negative comments on him,” Naidu said when pressed for comments during a press conference at the BJP headquarters.
Earlier during the day, Naidu told reporters, "This government is not weak, it is a strong government. Opponents are not able to digest the popularity of the PM. Our government is free from scandals.
Our priority is development and only development, don't get misled with what opponents say."
BJP general secretary Arun Singh said Shourie's membership ceased after he did not renew it during the recent membership drive.
All members have to renew their membership after every six years and Shourie did not do so this time round, he said.
"Arun Shourie is no more a BJP member. He did not renew his membership," he said.
Another minster Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that Shourie was upset over not being included in the Modi Cabinet. "When you don't keep the right company this what happens. These people are influenced by losers and that is why they make such statements. There is no vacancy in PMO as of now. We don't need any certificate from anyone," Naqvi said.
BJP leaders hit at Shourie, after the latter launched a scathing attack on the government, and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During a book launch function in Delhi, Shourie said, “Doctor Singh (Manmohan Singh) ko log yaad karne lag gaye hain (People have started recalling the days of Manmohan Singh). The way to charaterise policies of the government is - Congress plus a cow. Policies are the same."
"I feel there was never a weaker a PMO as now". There has never been as great a centralisation of functions, not power, of functions in PMO as now. If fellows don't dont have domain expertise, that Brajesh Mishra had, L K Jha had, all these principal secretaries had, then things get stuck," Shourie had added.