In a wide-ranging interview to Karan Thapar on the Headlines Today channel to review Modi's first year in office, Shourie said that the government lacks clear thinking. It has good ideas but is poor in implementation, said Shourie, who served as Minister of Disinvestment, Communication and Information Technology in the Atal Bihari Vajpyee government. He said that there is a big gap between perception and promise, and projection and performance.
Shourie remarks were, unsurprisingly, welcomed by Modi's critics.
The halo around modi had finally been switched off. #ShourieSlamsModi
— #WithNepal (@brownbrumby) May 1, 2015
But even some Bharatiya Janata Party supporters approved of his observations.
Arun Shourie was among the best ministers under ABV. Very few can match his intellectual calibre. If he says something, sit and take notice.
— Yashwant Deshmukh (@cvoter) May 1, 2015
Shourie confirms with facts and figures what many in BJP have been saying, Arun Jaitley doesn't know the "F" of Finance — Madhu Kishwar (@madhukishwar) May 1, 2015
Wish PM @narendramodi had not cut himself off from old supporters & valuable allies like Arun Shourie, Subramaniam Swami & host of others — Madhu Kishwar (@madhukishwar) May 1, 2015
As was to be expected, Modi's supporters rushed to his defence.
Arun Shourie is not loyalist. His principles are I,Me,Myself..He is fake. He is not worried about @narendramodi ji . pic.twitter.com/nAT1ZSPXBO — Raju Parulekar (@rajuparulekar) May 1, 2015
Important to differentiate between well meaning criticism (lot has been offered and relentless it has been) and rage of a disgruntled man — Prasanna Viswanathan (@prasannavishy) May 1, 2015
Of course, it provided fodder for many wisecracks.
Just Love this picture of Arun Shourie. pic.twitter.com/IkQQ2kcvOs
— #WithNepal (@brownbrumby) May 1, 2015
I give it 48 hours before someone discovers a link between Arun Shourie and the Ford Foundation.
— SayNoToPaneer (@sidin) May 1, 2015