10.7.12

PC backs the PM

Home minister P Chidambaram stepped forward to exude confidence that the economy would get out of the current downturn and return to a high growth trajectory, underlining his re-emergence as a key player in the economic arena. 
Responding to Time magazine’s description of PM Manmohan Singh as an “underachiever”, Chidambaram, who has been finance minister twice, said, “We are confident that we will get out of the trough, and we will get back to high growth.” The assertion followed his appointment as chairman of the EGoM on spectrum, and amid indications that the PM may prefer a full-time finance minister before 
the monsoon session starts. Chidambaram has been seen as a frontrunner for Pranab Mukherjee’s replacement in the ministry. 
As the BJP seized upon the unfavourable coverage of the PM in international publications, the Congress hit back saying that the latest story in Time paled before the scathing critique of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the same magazine in 2002. Referring to the Time magazine write-up after the Gujarat riots, 
Chidambaram asked BJP leaders not to make too much of magazine articles.

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