Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi today criticized the Time Magazine's report on the Prime Minister terming it as a deliberate attack on Dr Manmohan Singh and an attempt to malign the UPA government.

Addressing a press conference in Kochi this evening, Vayalar Ravi said the report appears to be instigated by a section of multinationals in a bid to frighten investors and is linked to the Vodofone tax case.

He noted that appreciating Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and a month later attacking the Prime Minister smacked politics and added that multinationals cannot be allowed to dictate the policies of the country.

He said the government will not take any step that will jeopardize the interests of the domestic retail sector in the country.