In a veiled criticism of Left parties opposing economic reforms, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Tuesday 'problems' are being created from within the country and raking up of 'non-issues' hamper efforts to attract desired foreign investment.
Making it clear that economic issues will form the mainstay of India's diplomacy, he said the country would need 'aggressive' foreign investment and diversification of energy sources to enable it to achieve double-digit growth.
"Problems are not from outside but from inside. Therefore, if we can reconcile that position, people will be too ready, too willing, to come and make investments here," he said in New Delhi at the Silver Jubilee function of Indian Council for Research and International Economic Relations.
"But sometimes, we are quarrelling over some issues, which, to my mind, are non-issues... Sometimes we concentrate and waste our energies on non-issues. If we can avoid that, I don't think there will be any problem in attracting investment from abroad," he said.
He refused to give 'any examples' but the reference was obviously to the United Progressive Alliance allies' Left parties which have been opposing opening up of sectors like retail, banking and insurance to foreign investment.
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