Barack Obama surrendering on efforts to boost economy: Bobby Jindal

WASHINGTON: Indian-American Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal has accused President Barack Obama of "waving the white flag of surrender" on efforts to boost the sluggish economy and create more jobs by focusing only on raising the minimum wages.

"The Obama economy is now the minimum-wage economy...The reality is, America can do better," Jindal, a potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate, said.

After five years in office, Obama is "waving the white flag of surrender", the 42-year-old politician said.

He also asked the president to approve the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline from Canada and take other steps to improve the economy.

Jindal was in Washington for the winter conference of the National Governors Association. The three-day meeting, which ended yesterday, brought governors together to discuss issues affecting their states and ways to strengthen partnerships with the federal government.

The conference included meetings with Obama, Cabinet officials, business leaders and other experts. The governors attended a black-tie dinner at the White House on Sunday night and Monday for a morning meeting with Obama.

Jindal said the tone at the meeting with Obama was respectful, but there were "serious substantive differences".

Democrats and Republicans differ on raising the minimum wage, which Republicans say would eliminate jobs.

Obama recently signed an executive order raising the minimum wage to $ 10.10 per hour from the current $ 7.25 for federal contractors.