GPCC trains guns on Parrikar; says he’s ‘failed terribly’ as defence minister

Panaji:Brushing aside the Bharatiya Janata Party’s list of achievements during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two year rule at the centre, the Congress, on Thursday, instead chose to train its guns on defence minister Manohar Parrikar. Parrikar’s role as the defence minister in granting access to Pakistani investigators to the frontline Air Force Station at Pathankot not only drew flak from All India Congress Committee national spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi, but it also finds mention in an audio visual clip released on digital platforms satirizing Modi’s two year rule as prime minister.<br /> Chaturvedi also slammed Parrikar for constantly blaming the UPA government and specifically former defence minister A K Anthony.“Parrikar has failed terribly in the defence ministry. He cannot keep passing the buck,” Chaturvedi said.<br /> Parrikar’s decision to shake up the defence procurement policy and permit private players also drew derision with the Congress asserting that it was another case of the BJP government kowtowing the corporate sector. Parrikar has also appointed representatives of private Indian defence companies as heads of five subcommittees to make recommendations on choosing strategic partners in defence. “Allowing private players entry into the subcommittees for defence sectors speaks about the integrity of the Krishna Godavari basin,” the Congress spokesperson said.<br /> The Congress though does not expect the BJP to change its ways and went on to state that the BJP had showed scant regard for allegations of corruption, scams and scandals involving BJP lawmakers.<br /> “I see an absolute tendency to brazen it out in Modi’s government. See the Vyapam scam, the Lalit Modi incident, the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) scam during Modi’s tenure in Gujarat. It speaks of the hypocrisy of the BJP government on the issues of corruption,” Chaturvedi said.<br /> The Congress has <em>alleged</em> that a multi-crore scam is brewing in the operations of GSPC engaged in gas explorations in the Krishna Godavari basin.<br /> Still recovering from a dismal performance in the recently held assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Congress attempted to put up a brave face and has launched an audio video campaign for digital media to showcase “two years of Modi misgovernance.”<br /> “Black money, employment generation of one crore jobs each year, inflation, corruption; these were the core issues promised by Modi. What we have seen is just a lot of PR related events such as Digital India, Make in India, Stand up India,” Chaturvedi said with Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Luizinho Faleiro nodding in agreement.<ep,1>Responding to a question on the strategy for the party in the coming elections, Chaturvedi offered an unconvincing reply. “Congress senior leaders will have a plan in place. We are looking to convince people.”</ep,1>