Kejriwal questions achievements from Modi’s foreign tour

The conclusion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest foreign tour elicited a jibe questioning what the country had achieved from similar excursions made by him since being elected to office from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday.

Through a series of tweets which were almost synchronous with the conclusion of Mr. Modi's week-long tour of Ireland and the United States, a sceptical Mr. Kejriwal also asked whether the Prime Minister's rubbing shoulders with, and seeking investment from, representatives of individual companies “suited his stature”.

“PM Modi's US trip ends. Time to ponder what has country achieved from his foreign trips so far?...Does it suit the stature of an Indian PM to visit individual cos seeking investments?” Mr. Kejriwal asked before utilising the opportunity to attempt furthering his own 'Make India' agenda as a counter to Mr. Modi's 'Make in India' project.

Referring to China's mostly self-created industrial infrastructure and economic model which, according to Mr. Kejriwal were enough to attract 'corporate giants', the Chief Minister yet again raised a pitch for 'making India strong'.

“For instance, Chinese first built China and then all corporate giants vied to invest in China. So, lets first Make India...If we make India strong, investments will come at our terms, else investors will dictate terms,” Mr. Kejrwal tweeted in a subtle reference, as interpreted by a party source, both to Mr. Modi's “more than friendly relationship with a section of Indian industrialists” and the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) “proclivity for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)”.

“There is a larger, corporate-sponsored dimension to Mr. Modi's trips which actually aims at resurrecting the sweatshop culture in the country like in other South East Asian nations in the name and garb of foreign investment,” the party source said.

Instead of actually taking steps to overhaul the country's infrastructure – which constituted a significant chunk of Mr. Modi's public speeches – most of the promises he made to his audience, the party source said, only existed “on paper”.

“The Prime Minister did what he always does – portray all his political opponents as either evil or ineffective and put on a show for the audience,” the source added.

After chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, tweeted, Aam Admi Party also criticized Prime Minister’s foreign trips and asked Narendra Modi to concentrate on creating suitable investment conditions.

“There should be a critical analysis of the Prime Minister’s visit so as to find out whether it is giving any benefit to the nation or not. We (AAP) are of the view that this US visit of the Prime Minister was misplaced at the level of policies,” AAP leader Ashutosh said.

In a press conference, AAP leaders asked that it is time for the country to reflect the outcome of his visit and what has been achieved by the country from his meetings with heads of various countries and CEOs of major companies.

"Suitable conditions should be made in the country so that the foreign companies are compelled to come and invest. It never looks good to see the Prime Minister going to individual companies and telling them to invest,” he added.