So it was no surprise really when news came in on Monday evening that Shourie had launched a scathing attack at the central government by contending that it believes that managing economy means “managing the headlines” and that people had started recalling the days of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
“Doctor Singh (Manmohan Singh) ko log yaad karne lag gaye hain (People have started recalling the days of Manmohan Singh)," he was quoted as saying in news reports. "The way to characterise policies of the government is – Congress plus a cow. Policies are the same.”
These comments came during his presence at a function to launch Turn of The Tortoise, a book written by former Business Standard Editor-in-Chief TN Ninan, which was attended by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subranamian and former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran.
“There is clearer belief (in the present dispensation) that managing economy means managing the headlines and this is not really going to work,” he said, adding that he had never seen a weaker PMO. “I feel there was never a weaker a PMO as now. There has never been as great a centralisation of functions, not power, of functions in PMO as now.”
Emphasising on decentralising functions and maintaining cordial relations with all, Shourie went on to advise the government that it should stop doing “stupid things”.
“If fellows don’t dont have domain expertise, that Brajesh Mishra had, LK Jha had, all these principal secretaries had, then things get stuck,” he said. “Don’t get into fight with everyone. If you want to build Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, you require support of five Chief Ministers.”
While Shourie has expressed similar views before, which in fact is what he was asked to elaborate on, his comments are being seen as a sign of the discontent brewing among even the party’s vocal supporters, including columnists such as Tavleen Singh who recently pulled up the government for not having "poisoned the air with hatred and violence" and said it needed "to be put back into the sealed box in which it belongs."
Social media, meanwhile, seemed divided on whether Shourie’s criticism should be taken at face value.
There is a clearer belief that managing economy means managing headlines about the economy & this is not really going to work: Arun Shourie
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 26, 2015
But I feel that there has never been as weaker a PMO as now: Arun Shourie pic.twitter.com/34laL7uFlA
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 26, 2015
Actor Shatrughan Sinha & editor Arun Shourie have forensically taken apart the Modi government!
— swati chaturvedi (@bainjal) October 27, 2015
The reactions were predictable.
Liberals are the new 'Bhakts'.... of Arun Shourie & Shatrughan Sinha.
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) October 27, 2015
But there were also those who wanted to treat the statements on merit.
Can we ignore the exaggerations in what Arun Shourie said & focus on the genuine criticisms. Instead of doing the opposite.
— IndiaSpeaks (@IndiaSpeaksPR) October 27, 2015
If there were new bhakts of Shourie, there were also those who were disillusioned.
This moment - where I lost all my respect, held over many years, for Arun Shourie https://t.co/ZG9ko96GZj
— Saint Lucifer (@AgentSaffron) October 26, 2015
And, of course, there was the charge of sour grapes, of disgruntled malcontents sniping only because they weren't given cabinet positions. For a long time there has been a buzz that Shourie was still smarting from not being given any responsibility in the Modi government.
Modi must concentrate on the economy. But hard to take seriously the views of critics embittered by not getting jobs!
— Tavleen Singh (@tavleen_singh) October 27, 2015
Which is what the BJP wanted to emphasise.
The pain of not being in Government is reflecting in his statements-Sidharthnath Singh,BJP on Arun Shourie pic.twitter.com/T0bBJjPB8F
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2015
Don't know from where he gets influenced these days and makes such baseless remarks-MA Naqvi,BJP on Arun Shourie pic.twitter.com/D0MPVNqKfW
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2015
And as Modi supporters jumped in to defend their leader and Congress saw a point of agreement with Shourie, it was pretty much a free for all.
Shourie says Modi govt is Cong+Cow. But Modi delivered on 'Na khaonga, Na khane doonga(at least on Dal): Did in 1 yr what Cong didn't in 60!
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) October 27, 2015
Agree with him, people are indeed missing Dr.Manmohan Singh-Manish Tewari,Congress on Arun Shourie pic.twitter.com/vHZtKBHPMY
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2015
Is @narendramodi the weakest PM till date as stated by Arun Shourie?
— Ankit Lal (@ankitlal) October 27, 2015
Arun Shourie says people beginning to miss Dr Manmohan Singh's govt. Which scam in particular are we supposed to be missing?
— Minhaz Merchant (@minhazmerchant) October 26, 2015
@scotchism no, there is Ram Jethmalani and Arun Shourie also
— Wilson (@wilson_b) October 25, 2015
Suggestion to publishers: try and put Arun Shourie on every panel discussion at book launches. Success guaranteed!
— Aayush Soni (@aayushsoni) October 26, 2015
Who will send Arun Shourie to Pakistan tomorrow? Giriraj Singh might already be awake for Tatkal Bookings
— Joy (@Joydas) October 26, 2015
Arun Shourie can write in his Auto-biograpghy "I have earned Manish Tewari and Sanjay Jha as supporter, after my 50yrs of intellectualism"
— AshDubey_ (@AshDubey_) October 27, 2015
The New Math HT #ArunShourie pic.twitter.com/Y5DqleoDZe
— Prasanto K Roy (@prasanto) October 27, 2015
Here Arun Shourie, take picture of BJP government... pic.twitter.com/Ia7wusgjEZ
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) October 27, 2015