Modi's US visit disappointing on outcomes: Congress

Congress on Wednesday launched an all-out attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his US visit was "disappointing" on outcomes and claimed that an atmosphere of a grand event was created with the help of "cheerleaders" many of whom brought from India.

Accusing the prime minister of "hurting" the dignity of the post by "belittling" previous Indian governments on a foreign soil, party spokesperson Anand Sharma said it is a matter of concern for any political party or the nation if someone believes everything good for the nation has happened only during his time.

"We wonder whether he had gone there on an election campaign or he was suddenly reminded of his Parliamentary constituency Varanasi," he said, adding that Modi spoke during the visit as if he was still in "campaign mode".

Sharma also attacked him for "withdrawing", ahead of his US visit, an order which empowered the drug pricing authority of powers to cap prices of non-essential drugs and then during his visit deciding to set up, in collaboration with the US, a high-level working group on intellectual property to sort out issues which have been hampering investments.

On the latter, he alleged that the prime minister has "compromised" India's position and the issue cannot be revisited in a bilateral grouping.

Refusing to give any importance to the rapturous gathering during the Prime Minister's address at Madison Square Garden and elsewhere outside the venues of his address in the US, Sharma said, "There were many cheerleaders".

He gave the credit for the gathering at the Garden to the performance by well-known artistes and singers there.

Seeking to compare it with Modi's address at the UN General Assembly, the Congress spokesperson claimed that "two-third of the Assembly hall was empty when the Indian Prime Minister was speaking. This small gathering should be a matter of concern."

He also said all Indian prime ministers, who went to the US were given the honour of addressing the joint session of US Congress but "Modi was not given this honour" asking "why?".

Sharma said the visit was not so impressive as was projected and quoted BJP patriarch L K Advani to conclude that Modi is a very good "event-manager".