Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-nation tour of France, Germany and Canada, wrapped up on an embarrassing note with the Prime Minister’s visit to a Sikh Gurdwara in Vancouver drew protests from some people for the alleged human rights violations in Gujarat. Near the site, a group of about 150 protesters chanted slogans against him. They also shouted slogans against Prime Minister Stephen Harper for his alliance with Modi.
The protests came concurrently with the opposition Congress in New Delhi saying that the party will send a senior leader or a spokesman when the Prime Minister visits abroad in future. Speaking to the media, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma took strong exception to the comments being made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his trips abroad. Sharma said the Congress spokesman will travel to the same country where the Prime minister is, in the same city which he visits. He said Congress has respected convention and tradition by not speaking when the PM travels abroad but in future that shall not be the case.
The reaction came following Modi remarks about his predecessor government. Prime Minister during a speech in the earlier part of his tour of Canada had remarked that earlier India's identity was "scam India" and he now has to change it around the world to "skill India".
Taking an apparent dig at the previous governments, Modi had said, "Jinko gandagi karni thi, woh gandagi kar ke chaley gaye, par hum safai karenge (Those who had to create a mess, they have done so and left. We will clean it up)." Demanding an apology from the Prime Minister, the Congress said, “It shows his sick mentality. He has again broken the tradition of not talking domestic politics abroad and has again made malicious attacks on previous governments."We cannot tolerate such unbecoming behaviour any longer. Henceforth, if he again does so on foreign soil, a Congress leader or spokesman will be present there and will respond immediately," party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters.