! Deora reacts to criticism for praising Modi
September 24, 2019 15:22
Former Congress MP Milind Deora seems to have put his party in a spot.
24 Akbar Road, the Congress headquarters is concerned that Deora has been heaping praise on PM Narendra Modi's mega success mega event -- Howdy Modi, in Houston, Texas, on Sunday.
Deora's tweet yesterday was an acknowledgment of Modi's inroads in Indo-US diplomacy, when he said, "@PMOIndia's Houston address was a momentous first for India's soft power diplomacy. My father Murlibhai was one of the early architects of deeper Indo-US ties. @realDonaldTrump's hospitality & recognition of Indian Americans' contributions makes us proud."
The GoP would have probably overlooked his praise and dismissed it with an arched eyebrow, but for the PM's response to the tweet.
@narendramodi replied, "Thank you @milinddeora. You are absolutely correct when you highlight my friend, late Murli Deora Ji's commitment to strong ties with USA. He would have been really glad to see the strengthening of ties between our nations. The warmth and hospitality of @POTUS was outstanding."
Deora replied, "Thank you @narendramodiji!
Murlibhai put nation first & worked with all governments in India & the US to deepen ties between our great countries.
In my many interactions with my Democrat & Republican friends, they, too, acknowledge India's leadership in the 21st century."
This has caused much heartburn in the Congress party. It's only a matter of time that the Congress leadership is likely to enforce disciplinary action
against Deora especially when Maharashtra is headed to the polls.
Kiren Rijiju @KirenRijiju's praise for Deora hasn't helped either. The minister tweeted, "A matured & honest political comment by my dear friend @milinddeora
"Dare to be honest and fear no labor. "Honesty is not only the deepest policy, but the highest wisdom" -- Charles Caleb Colton."
@milinddeora responded: "Thank you, Kiren. I have always believed that Foreign Policy should be divorced from partisan politics."
The Congress has been upset with former Union minister Jairam Ramesh when he had said that Modi's governance model was "not a complete negative story" and added that not recognising his work and "demonising" him all the time was not going to help.
Deora, aware he may have breached the unsaid rule of not praising the PM and thereby the BJP and the former MP took to Twitter once again and wrote a lengthy statement, which we reproduce herein,
"I have noticed several reports speculating over the exchange of tweets between Shri Narendra Modi and me.
"I have inherited the legacy of the Inda-United States relationship from my late father Shri Murli Deora. My father first visited the US in 1968 as an exchange student, and after meeting Robert F Kennedy, decided to enter public life and build stronger ties between both democracies.
"My family's relationships with institutions, political parties and leaders in the US were built over five decades keeping India's best interests in m ind.
I am proud to state that Murlibhai's efforts and relationships helped strengthen India's national interest.
"My late father worked closely with Indian Prime Ministers and US Presidents - cutting across party lines - in the spirit of bipartisanship. "Murlibhai deserves respect because he was a true patriot who put nation first. Fortunately, politics at the time was not as confrontational and
ungracious as it is today.
"While I appreciate the kind words expressed by Murlibhai's friends and well-wishers, I express regret on the insi nuations and unwarranted criticism in sections of media and social media.
"For those who have already imagined and chartered my forward path, I wish to give you one unambiguous answer: I will serve my country to the best of my ability and I will remain bipartisan when it comes to issues of national interest and foreign policy. The experience and relationships that I have inherited and nurtured have little meaning if they cannot be leveraged for India.
"Finally, I am my father's son. Friendship was the bedrock of his politics. It has earned us friends and well-wishers from Bhuleshwar to Boston and Walkeshwar to Washington. I will not compromise on my core beliefs even though politics continues to become increasingly uncharitable and partisan."
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