Congress Reacts to PM Narendra Modi's Interview to Network18

New Delhi: The ruling BJP engaged in a war of words with the Congress after the opposition party said Prime Minister Narendra Modi "misled" the country on the economy in his interview to Network18.

Congress leader Anand Sharma called a press conference on Saturday and challenged the PM to come out with a white paper on the economy saying falling investment rates dip in manufacturing and non-creation of jobs were a matter of great concern.

The Prime Minister has no understanding of the economy. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had left the economy in a strong condition. The average GDP growth rate was 8.5% during the 10 years of UPA," Sharma said.

The Congress also countered Modi's claim of attracting the largest foreign direct investment during his tenure, and said this had actually happened in 2011 during UPA rule.

Former finance minister P Chidamabaram too tweeted a demand for a white paper on the economy and also indicated that PM Modi's claim had gone against the RBI's annual report and the CSO Report for 2014-15.

Today, we have the highest amount of foreign direct investment after Independence. The entire world says that at 7% growth, we are the fastest growing economy. Whether it is the World Bank, IMF, credit agencies, even UN agencies… they all say India is growing rapidly," Modi had said in an exclusive interview to Network18 Group Editor Rahul Joshi.

BJP leaders sparred with Congress spokespersons over criticism against the PM with senior minister Prakash Javadekar saying that the opposition does not want to accept facts.

"The Congress has lost it. We made a mistake. We should have brought out a white paper on the economy. Price rise, corruption and unemployment were all a legacy of the Congress," Javadekar said.

The Congress also rejected the PM's assertion in the interview that he never indulged in vindictive politics.

"The Congress is harassed in the National Herald case. Enforcement Directorate was sent after Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh. The Congress governments in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh were dismissed, but were restored later by the Supreme Court. What is vindictive politics then?" Sharma asked.

Sharma also sought to dismiss the PM's condemnation of attacks on Dalits by cow vigilantes as "too late and too little". Referring to BJP leaders who backed gau rakshaks he asked, "Has he acted against Sakshi Maharaj? Yogi Adityanath? Sadhvi Prachi? The Prime Minister of India is not that helpless."

The ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh also joined issue with party general secretary Naresh Agarwal saying, “It is unfortunate that Dalits have always been seen as a vote bank. First Congress used to do so, now the BJP is doing the same. If all are so concerned about Dalits, why the community is in distress.

In Bengal, Trinamool Congress minister Firhad Hakim said, "The PM belives in the politics of revenge. He will not accept anything on camera. He always targets the opposition."

Modi's interview however struck a chord with JDS leader and former prime minister Deve Gowda who thanked the PM for "exposing the despicable culture" of the elites of Lutyen's Delhi and said they had schemed against him too while he was in power as he came from a rural background.