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Few hours after former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tore into present PM Narendra Modi-led Indian Government, Singh met his successor at his residence at 7RCR. 
 
Although many people had different versions of the meeting, the Prime Minister's Office stated that Dr Singh's visit to 7 Race Course Road was just a courtesy call. 
 
However, Dr Singh's office said in a statement, "At the invitation of PM Modi, former PM Dr Manmohan Singh met the Prime Minister today... they discussed the economic situation in the country and foreign policy issues." 
 
Later on, Congress party leader Anand Sharma told a news agency that the meeting took place at the behest of Modi, who invited Singh to discuss the state of the economy and foreign policy issues. 
 
When Modi took charge as PM last year on May 26, he had visited Singh. 
 
Meanwhile, the meeting came after Singh slammed Modi government over an array of issues, including economic growth and welfare. 
 
"Institutions of Democracy are under threat. The entire edifice of the welfare state is now being dismantled in the guise of promoting faster economic growth. The past is continually being rewritten to promote a highly biased and communal view. Dissent is being suppressed,” Singh had said. 
 
President of Bharatiya Janata Party Amit Shah countered Singh’s attacks, saying that he cannot run away from its responsibility by merely saying that he had not enriched. 
 
“The debate is not over simply because you do not yourself engage in corruption. A Prime Minister is expected to provide corruption free governance," Shah said. 
 
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Very happy to meet Dr. Manmohan Singh ji &amp; welcome him back to 7RCR. We had a great meeting. <a href="http://t.co/GlpfqKByoS">pic.twitter.com/GlpfqKByoS</a>
	— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/603552229140766720">May 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
(Image: PIB)

Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi meet like long-lost friends, just a day after levelling nasty charges against each other

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=arun+jaitley&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley</a> slammed opposition, after former <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=manmohan+singh&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Prime Minister Manmohan Singh</a> called <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=demonetisation&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">demonetisation</a> a ‘monumental mismanagement’ and said economy will get adversely affected. 
 The opposition has alleged the government does not want a <keyword id="3852205" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="debate-on-demonetisation">debate on demonetisation</keyword> and is not bothered about the inconvenience faced by the common man. The opposition is asking <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=prime+minister+narendra+modi&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> to take part in the debate and give his opinion on the same. So far, Modi has not spoken on <keyword id="3315394" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="demonetisation">demonetisation</keyword> in the parliament. 
 
Amid the uproar in Rajya Sabha, Jaitley said, “We are ready for a debate. The opposition wanted to have a debate in presence of PM Modi and then started looking for excuses. First day it was a debate without any pre-conditions, from next day they started putting unreasonable conditions and it continues.” 
 
Jaitley tore into opposition and raked up the scams that had hit the previous Congress-led UPA government hard. 
 
“Opposition thinks demonetisation is a blunder. Don’t they think Commonwealth Games, 2G were a blunder? The entire nation has seen the government during whose rule black money was generated,” said Jaitley. 
 Earlier in the day in Rajya Sabha, <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword> said demonetisation was a blunder and would adversely affect the Indian economy. “In the long run, we’re all gone,” Singh had said. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Manmohan-Singh-on-cash-ban-In-the-long-run-wereall-dead/articleshow/55596645.cms">Manmohan Singh on cash ban: ‘In the long run we’re all dead’</a> 
 
“Those who didn’t consider scandals to be a blunder, they are considering demonetisation to be a blunder,” said Jaitley. 
 
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the Indian government had created more havoc than Hitler.

Arun Jaitley takes on opposition, says ‘scamsters are calling demonetisation a blunder’

NEW DELHI: Even as a "communal versus secular" battle promises to remain the main motif of the 2014 election, <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> has sought to counter criticism that it presided over a shrinking <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword> by balancing its "welfare" instincts with an outreach to business. 
 Though Congress's political focus remains challenging <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword>'s prime ministerial <keyword id="53129" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="candidate">candidate</keyword> <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> by painting him as a threat to the idea of a unified, equitable India, the party is also looking to undercut his growth pitch. 
 Framing Congress policies as truly inclusive, vice-president <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> said, "The country can grow by a firm partnership between business and poor. It cannot grow either by neglecting business or the poor." 
 
The manifesto, which bears a strong imprint of Rahul's thinking, promises a strong set of rights-based initiatives intended to benefit a "sandwiched" class of those between the poverty line and the middle class. 
 
Rahul has consistently focused on this section, estimated by his backroom to number 70 crore, and the manifesto promised to bring these "skilled hands" into the middle class through a 15-point agenda. 
 
Addressing the interests of a class that is not-rich, not-middle class, not-BPL (NRMB) can help Congress counter caste and identity based politics of its rivals in many states, party sources contended. 
 
The document released on Wednesday looks to offer a "complementarity" between business and beneficiaries of the welfare schemes by arguing that programmes like homestead and health security will spur demand. 
 
Just the health sector could see an addition of 60 lakh jobs while Congress promised to frame policies that can deliver 10 crore jobs – a clear attempt to counter the damaging criticism that UPA policies delivered jobless growth. 
 
The lack of specific initiatives — apart from pledges such as fixing retrospective tax — to encourage foreign investment reflects a belief that if systems work in a fair and efficient manner, capital is bound to follow. 
 
There are other shifts from past UPA policy that point to the ongoing change of guard in Congress with the manifesto's political and governance reforms underlining Rahul's oft-repeated view that rent seeking and influence peddling is the bane. 
 Though the proposals cannot wish away the negative impact of a series of corruption scandals, Rahul chose to defend the 'primaries' experiment in choosing <keyword id="6355187" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha">Lok Sabha</keyword> candidates saying it was an idea well worth the effort. 
 
His argument that making a system more transparent can make it that much harder for bribe-giving and lobbying to influence decisions has been at best partially successful. But either way, Congress is clearly committed to Rahul's way. 
 
The balancing act between welfare and growth seeks to retain the support of those likely to benefit from schemes like rural employment and food security and counter Modi's sharp criticism that corruption, shrinking employment and stalled businesses meant both the poor and the middle class lost out. 
 
The rebalancing did not, however, see any dilution of Congress's focus in a rights-based approach that party leaders say is intended to "give the deserving their due" and this means health cover including free medicines, homestead security and pensions. There is also the promise to improve education through a greater role of private institutions. 
 
Though Rahul said he recognizes the need for business to prosper to fund welfare schemes, the manifesto clearly does not see the rights as "handouts" but feels they level the playing field for the disadvantaged. 
 
 
 The manifesto slammed the "retroactive <keyword id="6383566" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Taxation">taxation</keyword>" while promising to pump in one trillion dollars in infrastructure in ten years and bringing in flexible labour policy to boost competitiveness. It also lays stress on job creation and manufacturing. 
 
"The elections are not just about good work and economic development. For Congress, this election is to safeguard the constitutional framework that the freedom fighters bequeathed to us…we don't turn man against man," she said. 
 The Congress trinity of <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword>, <keyword id="689" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Sonia-Gandhi">Sonia Gandhi</keyword> and Rahul singled out Modi for sharp attack. Rahul backed Singh's earlier description that Modi would be a disastrous for India as a PM and added that he represented an ideology that would hurt the country. 
 Congress faces strong anti-incumbency after a decade in power, co<keyword id="6355553" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="MP">mp</keyword>ounded by the slips on the graft-and-growth fronts that have put its chances with the middle-classes under a cloud. The failure in the largely rural states of MP, <keyword id="43945" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Chhattisgarh">Chhattisgarh</keyword> and Rajasthan in the December elections underlined the limitations of the appeal of UPA's flagship schemes. 
 
The attack on BJP and Modi for "communalism" seeks to address the vast electorate of Muslims and minorities who are likely to polarise against the BJP with Modi as mascot. There seems a realization among the Congress strategists that because of his image, Modi is succeeding in baiting the Hindu votes despite talking about development in his rallies. 
 
The bid to corner the saffron camp aims as much to corner it with a large section of the electorate as also to deepen the "secular" deterrent for the regional parties mulling partnership with BJP. 
 
Times View 
 
The Times of India Manifesto ('MANIFESTOI', published on March 14) had made a strong case for fiscally responsible and socially progressive governance. The Congress manifesto is broadly in line with our philosophy, although it is somewhat skimpy on details. It calls for accelerated growth and financial prudence; speedy introduction of GST; administrative, legal and judicial reforms, flexible labour laws; 'zero aversion' to foreign investment; decriminalization of consensual gay sex; greater spending on health and education; creation of a business-enabling environment. All of this, and more, was contained in the TOI Manifesto. Question is, how much of it will the Congress be able to actually implement? After all, it had a decade to do it. 
 
While agreeing with the overall thrust of the manifesto, it should be pointed out that what Congress calls a 'rights- based approach' can be rendered meaningless by overreach. We have no quarrel with the general proposition that many of the services government provides to citizens should be treated as their due rather than a favour. Indeed, it is an important change in the mindset of those in 'power'. However, we must not make the mistake of assuming that all of India's problems – among them the fact that not everybody gets their roti, kapda and makaan – can be legislated away by giving people a 'right' to them. Guaranteeing the right to health, for instance, is a far cry from actually delivering quality, affordable healthcare to 1.2 billion. 
 
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/specials/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/TOI-manifesto-An-agenda-for-the-new-government/articleshow/31973967.cms">READ ALSO: TOI manifesto — An agenda for the new government</a>

Congress Manifesto Takes On Modi, Balances Talk Of Welfare With Outreach To India Inc

New Delhi, Feb 1 () Describing the Union Budget as "insipid" and one that is "all talk and nothing concrete", Opposition parties on Saturday said it does not address the key issue of unemployment or suggest ways to fuel investment to spur economic growth.
While the Congress alleged that the reduction in tax rates did not help the salaried class who have to pay more under the new slabs, the Left parties said it is a "budget of privatisation" and accused the government of abdicating its responsibilities.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh said the budget speech was "too long" and Trinamool Congress alleged that the government was lying on tax cuts and one should read the fine print on the so-called IT cuts, as government has removes incentives.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the budget offered no strategic idea or anything concrete and left the issue of unemployment unaddressed, while former finance minister P Chidambaram gave it a score of zero to one out of 10 and asserted that the Modi government has given up on reviving the economy, accelerating growth or creating jobs.
"The main issues confronting this country today are unemployment and the situation as far as the economy is concerned. I did not see any concrete idea, any strategic idea that would help our youngsters get jobs. I saw a lot of tactical stuff, redundant things, I did not see any central idea," Gandhi told reporters.
"I did not find any strategic thing in it. The main issue is employment and economy. There is redundancy and income tax has been complicated instead.
"The government's approach is visible in this budget. It did not have anything in it. It was hollow," he said.
Gandhi said the budget describes the government quite well, which is of "all talking" and nothing concrete. "A lot of repetition, a lot of rambling, nothing concrete. So it is the mindset of the government - all talk, all talk, all talk, nothing happening. But, the country is, of course, is suffering," he said.
Congress leader and senior spokesperson Anand Sharma said the "budget is insipid, lacking in stimulus for growth" and has no clear roadmap for job creation.
The party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the new tax slab for salaried people is "simply 'labyrinth' to mislead people". "Actually, under the new tax slab, people will have to pay more tax than in the old tax slab," he claimed.
At the opposition party's press conference, Chidambaram said the government's claim of 6 to 6.5 per cent growth next year is "astonishing and even irresponsible".
Asked what rating he would give to the budget on a scale of 1 to 10, he took a dig, saying "10 has got a 1 and 0, you can pick either of a number. I am okay with it".
He accused the government of being in "complete denial" about the economy facing a "grave macro economic challenge" and there's nothing in the Budget that leads one to believe that growth will revive in 2020-21.
"It was a laundry list of old (that is current) programmes," he said.
If the ongoing programmes have failed the people, how can throwing more money into the ongoing programmes change anything, he asked.
"The government has given up on reviving the economy or accelerating the growth rate or promoting private investment or increasing efficiency or creating jobs or winning a greater share of world trade," he said.
The Indian economy is demand-constrained and investment-starved, and the finance minister has not acknowledged these two challenges, and "that is a pity", he said.
He asked how one could call it a budget about caring the society when food and fertilizers subsidies have been reduced. "I think this talk about caring society is more words than deeds. Once we drill into the numbers, we will know how caring they are or how uncaring they are."
Slamming the budget's proposal to sell a part of the government's share in LIC, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC president Mamata Banerjee on Saturday described it as a plan to "ambush" the legacy of public institutions.
"I am shocked and appalled to see how the central government plans to ambush the heritage and legacy of public institutions. It's the end of sense of security. Is it also an end of an era?" the CM tweeted.
CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury criticised the budget, saying it did nothing to alleviate "people's miseries".
"The less you have to say longer will be the speech. The budget has completely failed to address the current economic slowdown. It does not have a road map on how the economy can be turned around," he said.
"Just platitudes and slogans. Nothing substantial to alleviate peoples' misery, the growing unemployment, rural wage crash, farmers' distress suicides and galloping prices," he said.
CPI general secretary, D Raja said that said that the Union Budget was a budget exposed how the government is abdicating all its responsibilities by privatising public assets.
"This budget is a budget for privatization and everything is to be done using PPP route including railways, health and infrastructure," he said.
"No hope to be seen in the budget for the millions of unemployed youth of the country," he said.
The All India Forward Bloc said that the budget was "an offer to sell India" and said it includes large scale privatization and disinvestment of national assets.
Opposition leader Sharad Yadav said the economic growth is at a low of 4.5 per cent and the issue of unemployment has become grave but the budget offers nothing to tackle these problems.
It does not touch on the issues like farmer suicides, poverty, rising inflation, cases of bank frauds, he said, demanding that Sitharaman should "apologise" for "ruining" the economy. SKC ASK ASG KR SKC ABH
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Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi meet like long-lost friends, just a day after levelling nasty charges against each other

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Arun Jaitley takes on opposition, says ‘scamsters are calling demonetisation a blunder’

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Congress Manifesto Takes On Modi, Balances Talk Of Welfare With Outreach To India Inc

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Oppn dubs budget as insipid, slams govt for 'all talk, nothing concrete'

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