The MEA on Thursday disapproved of Mann’s criticism of Modi’s foreign visits, terming his comments “irresponsible”.
Without naming Mann, the ministry said the government of India “disassociates” itself from the “unwarranted” comments made by a “high state authority” that undermined India’s ties with friendly countries.
Responding to a question about the MEA’s response, Mann on Friday asked, “Do not I have a right to question about a foreign policy that what are you going to do there? What have you done there? Tell us. Don’t we have a right?” “I asked about the foreign policy that wherever you go, why Adani’s business starts there. It means he takes him out there. Why do not you accept that you go there to get someone business? Don’t we have the right to ask? We will ask. I will ask him in the future also,” said Mann.
“Cannot we ask the PM why did you go there and what agreement was signed with them. When our relations with Pakistan turned bad, did any country stand by us? No one stood. But Modi saab travelled around the earth. Magnesia, Tarveshia (sic)… do not know which are these countries. We even do not know their names and he goes there.
“Speak to 140 crore people who live here to resolve their issues,” he said while speaking to reporters after the second day of the Punjab assembly session here.
He cannot resolve the ongoing water dispute between Punjab and Haryana and they say they can stop the war between Ukraine and Russia, said Mann while taking a dig at Modi.
On Thursday, Mann had criticized Modi for celebrating a foreign honour from a country with a population of just 10,000 while “neglecting” the nation’s pressing issues.
“Pradhan Mantri ji has gone to Ghana? Has he come back from Ghana? Will he come back today? He will be welcomed upon his return in the country.
“… He is not staying in the country where 140 crore people live. The countries which he is visiting have a population of 10,000. And he got the biggest award there. Over here, 10,000 people gather to watch the JCB machine (earth moving machine),” Mann had said.
Modi returned to India on Thursday after a five-nation tour of Brazil, Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina and Namibia. PTI CHS VSD ZMN
