BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad takes potshots at Mukherjee's 'coalition politics' remark

New Delhi, Apr 22 (ANI): Hitting out at Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for his remark that coalition politics has slowed down reforms, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday said there is a serious leadership and governance deficit, and also a lack of trust among UPA allies.

"Well, as far as the statement of Pranab Mukherjee is concerned. Yes, there may be a coalition government again, but the problem of Indian economy does not stem from the compulsions of coalition politics. The problem basically arises as to whether the Prime Minister is in office or also in authority and who takes the decision 10, Janpath (Congress President Sonia Gandhi's residence) or 7, RCR (Race Course Road)," said Prasad.

Alleging that there is lack of trust among the UPA allies, Prasad said former Prime Ministers Narasimha Rao and Atal Bihari Vajpayee were able to run the government properly despite having a coalition political formation.

"Narasimha Rao was also the Prime Minister and did not had a complete majority, yet reforms were initiated. Mr. Vajpayee (former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee) was the leader of 26-coalition political formation, yet his leadership was accepted in the entire country. Direction was known and the entire pace of economic development was clear because there was trust," said Prasad.

"We don't know what is happening today. There is serious leadership and governance deficit and also a lack of trust among the allies. Therefore, 'Pranab babu' (Pranab Mukherjee), the problem is not the compulsion of coalition government, the problem is the health of your government. The capacity of a leadership, the authority of a leadership and also lack of trust among the constituents of the UPA," he added.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee earlier said it cannot be denied that some reforms have slowed down in India due to 'pressure of coalition politics'.

"While there can be no denying that due to the pressures of coalition democracy, some reforms have slowed down over the past year but we have taken several steps to shore up the short and medium growth prospects," he said, while speaking at Peterson Institute of International Economics in Washington. (ANI)