CPI(M) hits out at PM for his dig at 'secularists'

CPI (M) today hit out at Narendra Modi over his recent dig at "secularists", saying it is "completely unbecoming" of the Prime Minister and was unprecedented for a person holding the top post to "settle" domestic political issues when abroad.
CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury also said it was "unfortunate" that the Prime Minister has undertaken "so many" foreign visits and quipped that since Modi has spent "more time" abroad, he is finding little time to settle domestic political issues when in India.
"It's completely unbecoming. As a Prime Minister of our country, it has never happened that the domestic political issues have been settled by the Prime Minister abroad.

"Now it's a different matter that Modi is spending more time abroad than in India. Therefore, he may not have time in India to settle the Indian political issues, so he is doing it abroad," Yechury told reporters.
The Rajya Sabha member said it is "unfortunate" situation that the Prime Minister has undertaken "so many" foreign visits during the 16-month tenure.
"It is (also) in very bad taste. What is he governing? They promised what is called good governance. They promised maximum governance and minimum government. The government is abroad," he said.

Yechury spoke as the CPI (M) politburo meeting got underway here to discuss current political situation and the party's preparation for the plenum to be held between December 27 and 30 in Kolkata.

During his brief visit to Dublin on September 23, Modi had taken dig at "secularists" in India after Irish children welcomed him reciting Sanskrit shlokas saying had this been done back home, it would have raised questions.
"The Irish children were reciting shlokas in Sanskrit and singing welcome songs. It did not seem to me that they were just tutored. They were able to express the feelings of the words," Modi had said while addressing India diaspora there.
"I congratulate their teachers. It's a matter of happiness that we can do it in Ireland. But had it been done in India, then questions would have been raised on secularism," he had said.