PM Modi with Scott Morrison, his then counterpart from Australia, in a photo the latter posted. (File)
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi while citing the censure of former Australian premier Scott Morrison by that country's Parliament for secretly amassing multiple ministerial powers.
Mr Ramesh said Morrison could have taken advice from his "buddy" Narendra Modi on how to be in charge of all ministries while still having the "fig leaf of ministers".
"Former Australian PM Scott Morrison has been censured by its Parliament for secretly appointing himself as minister for five extra ministries. He could have taken advice from his buddy our PM on how to be in charge of all ministries while still having the fig leaf of ministers!" the Congress general secretary in-charge communications said
Australia's former Prime Minister Morrison on Wednesday unsuccessfully argued against being censured by Parliament for secretly amassing multiple ministerial powers.
The centre-left Labour Party government introduced to the House of Representatives a rare censure motion against Mr Morrison, who as a conservative prime minister took the unprecedented steps of appointing himself to five ministerial roles between March 2020 and May 2021, usually without the knowledge of the existing minister, as per foreign media reports.
The House passed the motion 86 to 50 against Morrison, who remains an opposition lawmaker. It has no effect other than to tarnish his political legacy.
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