India's Ireland envoy blames Congress for corruption in India, party slams 'disgraceful behaviour'

The Congress party has called for the sacking of India's Ireland envoy Akhilesh Mishra after he blamed a "single dynastic party" for the "entrenched ecosystem of corruption in India".

In a rejoinder to the Irish Times newspaper which made critical remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the envoy termed the editorial "highly biased and prejudiced" and praised the Modi government's fight against corruption.

The editorial titled "Modi tightens his grip" mentioned the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and tax cases against opposition leaders while predicting a third term for Modi.

“Most recent was the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal… over an alleged ‘scam’ involving alcohol sales… And Congress, India’s largest Opposition party, has seen the tax authority freeze millions in its bank accounts, crippling its ability to campaign,” the editorial said.

Contesting the claims, the Indian embassy said it cast aspersions on the Prime Minister, democracy, law enforcement institutions, and the "Hindu-majority" people of India.

"The fight against the deeply entrenched ecosystem of corruption (created by the 55-year rule, including first 30 years, by a single dynastic party in India) is a major factor behind Mr Modi's ever-growing popularity. There is huge sense of relief at the grass-root level to witness action being taken and recoveries made from the rich and powerful elites who operated with a sense of entitlement of impunity," Mishra said in the rejoinder.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoys unprecedented popularity not only in India but globally because of his impeccable personal character and integrity and thought-leadership on innovative, inclusive governance and sustainable development.”

“As he does not belong to any elite political family, his personal life inspires millions of ordinary people in India and other developing countries,” Mishra said. “The fight against the deeply entrenched ecosystem of corruption (created by the 55-year rule, including first 30 years by a single dynastic party in India) is a major factor behind Mr Modi’s ever growing popularity,” he said.

“There is a huge sense of relief at the grassroot level to witness action being taken and recoveries made from the rich and powerful elites who operated with a sense of entitlement of impunity,” he said, adding that the anti-corruption drive is successful because Modi has given a free hand to the relevant agencies.

The remarks sparked an angry reaction from Congress, with its communications in charge Jairam Ramesh questioning the ambassador's "unprofessional and disgraceful behaviour".

"Defending the Government of India is one thing and is to be expected. But to attack Opposition parties openly in this manner like a party apparatchik is not expected from an Ambassador even if he be a political appointment. This is unprofessional and disgraceful behaviour on his part-but is par for the Modi course I guess," he said.

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