UPA government on 'borrowed time': Modi

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the central government was engulfed by policy paralysis and it was on "borrowed time".

"It (UPA government) is not watching the calender, but the clock. It is on borrowed time," Modi said at a programme jointly organised by three chambers of commerce. Modi, who is widely being perceived as the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, accused the Centre of policy paralysis and claimed it had floundered on several issues including that of Italian marines, Bangladesh and Pakistani troops beheading Indian soldiers.

"It is astonishing that the Italian marines, accused of killing Indian fishermen, were allowed to go to their native country to vote, while even if the mother of an Indian accused dies, he is not allowed to go to her funeral," he said. The Chief Minister said the country's interest should be considered first while framing foreign policy.

"Despite India having played a key role in the birth of Bangladesh, no one is giving importance to Delhi in that country during the present crisis there," he claimed. The government was being soft with Pakistan even after beheading of Indian soldiers, he said.

Echoing his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee's charge that the Centre has been discriminating against non-Congress states, Modi said the UPA government's approach was detrimental to the country's federal structure.