Manish Tewari says the induction of former bureaucrats reflects that the PM doesn't trust his political colleagues
The Opposition on Sunday took a dig at the Cabinet reshuffle, saying PM Modi has reduced his Cabinet to an extension of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari also described the nine new ministers as a "senior citizens' club", pointing out that while the median age of a person in the country was 27 years, the average age of the new entrants was 60.44 years.
He also termed the expansion "maximum government and minimum governance". He said the induction of former bureaucrats reflects that the PM doesn't trust his political colleagues. He also charged the PM for including Anantkumar Hegde in the ministry. He referred to a video that had surfaced in which Hegde was seen allegedly beating up doctors in Karwar. "Hegde's inclusion is aimed to communalise Karnataka ahead of the assembly elections next year," he said.
The Congress also said the PM has himself admitted to the failure of his government to turn around the economy by removing Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Kalraj Mishra as ministers for Skill Development and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises respectively.
Referring to the elevation of Nirmala Sitharaman, who was promoted to the Cabinet rank and put in charge of the crucial Defence ministry, Tewari said, "We hope she does not handle the Defence ministry the way she did the Commerce ministry, which saw a crippling decline of exports-imports during her tenure". He also termed the elevation in the rank of Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi "mere tokenism" and said the BJP's attitude towards Muslims was "well known".
The CPM said the reshuffle is meant to divert people's attention, because of the epic failure of demonetisation. CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the nation runs under the PM and from the PMO.
BSP chief Mayawati said that retired bureaucrats were being relied on more than politicians. The expansion is an attempt to divert attention of the people from the "failure of the government on burning problems like poverty, unemployment, Ganga cleaning" as well as promises made by the BJP during the Lok Sabha polls, Mayawati said.
"This is new drama being enacted by the BJP. The people have lost hope and are angry with the government. In place of politicians, retired bureaucrats are being relied on more in the expansion and an attempt is being made to propagate the agenda of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh," she said in a statement.
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