Modi a great salesman, repackaging, selling schemes introduced by UPA ... - IBNLive

New Delhi: Former Finance Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram has warned the Narendra Modi government that the party will play the part of robust opposition from now on. Speaking to CNBC-TV18's Managing Editor Sheeren Bhan, Chidambaram said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a great salesman for repackaging and selling schemes originally introduced by the UPA.

Here is an excerpt from the interview:

CNBC TV-18: The role of the Congress as the opposition. We do not know whether Congress will be the Leader of the Opposition or not.

P Chidambaram: It is rather churlish on their part not to give the Leader of Opposition.

CNBC TV-18: Let them answer.

P Chidambaram: No. I want to make that statement for the viewers.

CNBC TV-18: The fact of the matter is we do not hear from the Congress party, we do not see the Congress party.

P Chidambaram: As far as the Congress party is concerned, I think they observed restraint, usual courtsey of the first hundred days. I think they should have spoken up after the first 100 days. I do not think this restraint that we have observed will continue forever. I think the Congress party will speak up and the party will play the role of a robust opposition.

CNBC TV-18: Uou said that, as far as the black money probe is concerned the Congress party will not be embarassed, there may be a certain individual within the party.

P Chidambaram: I do not know if anyone's name is there.

CNBC TV-18: It sounded like you knew and it sounded like an admission that there was a Cabinet minister.

P Chidambaram: Did I speak in Swahili? I said very clearly I did not ask to see or was I shown the list. I do not know whose name is on it. We were told that there is a Congress person on the list, so I said that the specific person will be embarassed, why will the party be embarrased?

CNBC TV-18: So you do not know if there is any minister on that list?

P Chidambaram: Let me repeat again. I was not shown or I didn't ask to see the list.

CNBC TV-18: Again, let me ask you this, has the Congress failed to sell and market it's ideas. Look at what the PM is doing, whether it is at Red Fort or Madison Square garden, the direction and the messaging is consistent - red tape versus rep carpet.

P Chidambaram: Why don't you add 3 A's, 4 C's . I'm not denying the fact that PM Modi is a great salesman, question is what is he selling, what are the policy packages he is selling. I think it's too soon to pass judgement and even now I will say that we need to give them time.