PM Narendra Modi: India's Nixon?

BANGALORE: With the pace of work at which the newly elected PM Narendra Modi does, his counterpart from the previous government lauded his task and held him high. Hardly a fortnight after Congress official spokesperson Shashi Tharoor’ 'Modi 2.0' praise, Former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh' believes that Prime Minister has the potential of emerging as 'India's Richard Nixon' in handling Pakistan and China, reports Economic Times.

Ramesh reference to Modi as India’s Nixon is in context with how the then President of U.S. Nixon visited China to mend the ties between the two countries. It was referred popularly as the "week that changed the world" as it involve a huge shift in the post-Cold War world.

In an interview, Ramesh said," Modi in many ways is like Nixon who opened China to America. Modi could become India's Nixon when it comes to China or Pakistan," reports ET.

However, the former Union Minister Ramesh ruled that while Modi's attempts to improve India-Pakistan ties were highly lauded, the UPA's government's similar efforts would have been criticized. "If we had invited Nawaz Sharif we would have been criticized for feeding him biriyani. But there is exchange of saris and shawls (now)," he added.

Not only had the Ex-minister called Modi as India’s Nixon but also credited Modi for a change in the way he picked his Cabinet. Ramesh said "It is inconceivable in Congress that first-time MPs like Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharminder Pradhan, Piyush Goyal or Smriti Irani can become ministers independently handling major ministries," reports ET. "I became minister of state, then minister of state with independent charge and then full minister. I worked up the ladder, I was 50 years when I became MoS and people said I was young."

Also Read:
These Indian Netas Are No. 1 Target of Terrorists
Get To Know The Man: Modi's Private Secretary