File Photo: Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today hit out at Congress for
dubbing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "tourist Prime Minister", questioning whether they want him to remain at one place like a "frog in a well".
"Congress leaders say Modi is tourist (prime) minister. Does it mean that he should remain at one place? (Is he) supposed to be like a frog in a well? Frog in a well only makes noise sitting inside," he said.
Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge had yesterday dubbed Mr Modi as "a tourist Prime Minister" and attacked him saying he had time to make speeches in foreign countries, but not to attend Parliament.
Alleging that the country was beset with many problems like poor economic growth, weak rupee and fiscal deficit when UPA handed over the reins of government to NDA last year, Mr Naidu said it needs to be made competitive in the comity of nations.
"This country should be placed before nations of the world. Because, this country was lagging behind when we got power. The world was moving ahead and the country was moving backward. Economic growth stunted. Rupee weakened. They handed over fiscal deficit, trade deficit, current account deficit and above all trust deficit to us and left," he said.
The Minister said Modi government was rectifying the situation, and things were looking up now with growth rate rising from 4.6 per cent to 7.3 per cent in one year since the NDA came to power.
Mr Modi is getting appreciation worldwide as evident in US President Barack Obama writing a signed article in an international publication, Russian President Vladimir Putin describing the Prime Minister as "hero of the people" and the Crown Prince of UAE personally welcoming him at airport setting aside protocol, Mr Naidu said.
Noting that the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) reports predicted India can even surpass China in growth, he alleged that Opposition parties were trying to create hurdles for Mr Modi and for that reason were not letting Parliament to function.
Referring to Land Bill, he said, "Congress leader (Rahul Gandhi) said we will not let even an inch of land to be taken. I urge Congress leaders to think how many lakhs of acres were given away to industries in the name of SEZs? Has the inch not completed even after giving away lakhs of acres? Is development possible without land? Can you set up NIT (National Institute of Technology) without land?" he said.
The Union Minister was speaking at Tadepalligudem in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh where foundation stone was laid for the NIT in the presence of Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.