Narendra Modi a 'tourist prime minister', says Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday dubbed Narendra Modi as "a tourist Prime Minister" attacked him saying he had time to make speeches in foreign countries, but not to attend Parliament. Noting that Modi had toured 25 countries, Kharge asked him to "visit" Parliament, as he slammed the "one man show" in the BJP-led government at the Centre.

"When adjournment motion under Rule 56 came up, Prime Minister was not present in the House. He was in his office, but did not come; in the same way when major issues were being discussed, he was not there, when opposition parties boycotted, he never called for meeting to find a solution," Kharge told the reporters. He said the Prime Minister had no time to be present in the House and no time to speak when allegations were being levelled against his Ministers,"... but he visits Australia, America's Madison Square and speaks there. He visits Dubai and addresses a gathering there in a stadium for hours together..."

Kharge also took a dig at Modi for making "election like" speeches without any "weightage" that a speech made by a Prime Minister should have, and criticised him for speaking negatively about past governments.

"He goes there (foreign countries) and makes comments on previous Prime Ministers for not making visit during their tenure, is it to be spoken?....he is a tourist Minister, tourist Prime Minister; in one year and four-and-half months, he has visited 25 countries, which other Prime Minister has done this?" he added.

Asked if he meant that Modi was emerging as a dictator, he said, "you find out- I have given all the characteristics." "He is not taking his own people into confidence. It may be his party's internal matter, but what concerns us is he visits foreign countries three to four days, he goes to farthest of countries like Canada and Brazil." "But sits in his office and not attend Parliament proceedings, not just for one or two days - for 20 days. This shows his arrogance," Kharge added.

Terming Modi's announcement of a Rs 1.25 lakh crore package for poll-bound Bihar as "political gimmick", he said "Prime Minister could have done this during budget or supplementary budget...he knows what should be done and said during elections." Kharge also "condemned" police action against students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune.

Claiming credit for making Bengaluru the IT capital during S M Krishna's regime, he alleged that BJP had turned "garden city" into "garbage city" and expressed confidence about Congress' victory in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike elections scheduled for August 22.