The government eased foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in pharma, aviation and defence sectors on 20 June - hours after Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan said he would not seek a second term.
"Centre has radically liberalised the FDI regime, with the objective of providing major impetus to employment and job creation in India," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
"India is now the most open economy in the world for foreign direct investment," he said.
The ruling party was once strongly opposed to these very FDI norms, that the UPA government - then in power - was vying for. In 2012, Modi, then the CM of Gujarat, accused the Manmohan Singh government of "giving India away to foreigners".
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley - then in the opposition - had said that BJP would oppose FDI "till the last breath".
Surprised what Pradhan Mantriji is doing!FDI in retail will harm shopkeepers, manufacturing sector & create joblessness http://t.co/m6nts7Gd
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 14, 2012
Modi had also lashed out at the UPA-led centre, saying the Congress' move to bring about FDI in retail would "harm the manufacturing sector" and would render many jobless.
Surprised what Pradhan Mantriji is doing!FDI in retail will harm shopkeepers, manufacturing sector & create joblessness http://t.co/m6nts7Gd
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 14, 2012
Interestingly, "economy and job creation" was the peg on which PM Modi announced the FDI reforms on 20 June 2016.
Today’s FDI reforms will give a boost to employment, job creation & benefit the economy. #TransformingIndia https://t.co/L49grGhku0
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 20, 2016
Social media users trained their guns at the PM Modi-led government, to remind them that political tactics are seldom forgotten so easily.
A video of then-Gujarat CM Narendra Modi accusing the Manmohan Singh-led Congress government of acting against farmers and shopkeepers also went viral. Watch it below:
"The Indian government has taken a decision and I want to give my commentary on that decision. I'm surprised as to what this prime minister is doing. The small traders who are here must understand. He (Manmohan Singh) has decided to lock down the shops of grocery shop owners and other small traders and decided to issue permit to foreigners and the FDI. If foreigners are allowed to invest 100% in retail, who will go to small traders to buy their products?" Modi had said.
Twitter users began to circulate screenshots of old tweets from Modi.
What is the name of this U-turn? #nationalshameModi pic.twitter.com/Yb18OlzZ13
— Ambarika (@ambu_pj) June 20, 2016
CM.Modi opposed FDI in retail sector but PM @narendramodi allowing FDI in retail sector, Why? will PM answer. pic.twitter.com/iKJzap8mYf
— Priyanka Gandhi fan (@P__V_G) June 10, 2016
Many users accused the NDA-led centre of "taking a u-turn" on their stand. Here is a look at a few tweets criticising the ruling party's stand:
Modi U Turn Asana on #FDI https://t.co/BiN4YVdgxW
— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) June 21, 2016
PM Modi is doing exactly what he opposed as CM Modi! Is this some U-Turn Asana on Yoga day, allowing FDI!?https://t.co/uVSDKJfDCi
— Rohan Khaunte (@RohanKhaunte) June 21, 2016
Mr Modi's U-turn on FDI - Idealism betrayed by power, corruption and lies
— Harish Chaudhary (@Barmer_Harish) June 21, 2016
MMS:GST
— TheCanceRian (@AmTrehan) June 12, 2016
CM Modi : No
PM Modi: Yes
MMS: AADHAAR
CM Modi : No
PM Modi: Yes
Manmohan : FDI
CM Modi : No
PM Modi: Yes
Happy #UTurnAsana on #YogaDay #योगदिवस अंतर्राष्ट्रीय योग
— Swachh Politics (@SwachhPolitics) June 21, 2016
क्योंकि #मेरा_देश_बदल_रहा_है , #आगे_बढ़_रहा_है 😍😍😍 😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/TM3NCOv86Z
Narendra Modi allows 100% FDI after opposing even the 49%, stalling parliament in UPA Govt.. And they call #BaharAaoKejriwal as Mr U-turn 😜😂
— Shaan Haider (@shaanhaider) June 20, 2016