New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday hit out at Congress President Rahul Gandhi for criticising the Narendra Modi-led government’s ‘anti-farmer approach’ at a rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur.
In his blog post titled ‘How Much Does He Know?’ Jaitley alleged that Rahul’s claim of Prime Minister Modi having waived off Rs.2.5 lakh crores of the 15 top industrialists was “completely false.”
“The government has not waived of a single rupee due from any industrialist. The facts are to the contrary. Those who owed money to the banks and other creditors have been declared insolvent and removed from their companies by the IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) enacted by Prime Minister Modi’s government. These loans were given largely during the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government,” he said.
Jaitley also rubbished allegations that loans were being sanctioned to industrialists and not to farmers.
“This was during the UPA government, particularly UPA II when the bulk of amount constitutes the NPA’s (non-performing asset) today were given by the banking system during the period 2008-2014. From 2014, we have been systematically taking one step after the other to recover these monies back.”
Rahul’s statement of making mobile phones in Madhya Pradesh, Jaitley said, is a “case of inadequate knowledge.”
“In the year 2014, when UPA went out of power, there were only two mobile phone manufacturing units in India. In 2018, with the result of our electronics policy and the incentives in a four year period, this has increased to 120 units with an investment of Rs.1,32,000 crores,” he added.
Jaitley also slammed the Congress President’s claim that Prime Minister Modi gave Rs. 35000 crores each to absconding diamond baron Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi.
“This banking fraud started in the year 2011 when the UPA II was in power. It was only detected during the NDA period,” Jaitley clarified.
The senior BJP leader further noted that India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, has become the world’s fastest growing economy, contrary to Rahul’s claims.
“The latest GDP date has reemphasised India as the fastest growing economy in the world. There is a double-digit growth in construction, expansion in manufacturing, an increased capital formation which indicates investment increase, a large investment in physical infrastructure and increased investment in rural India. All these are job-creating sectors,” the finance minister explained.
Jaitley also emphasised that quality of roads in Madhya Pradesh was improved under the BJP rule, and not during the Congress’ tenure in the state.
“Madhya Pradesh had the worst set of roads in India when the Congress was voted out in 2003. Poor quality of roads was a key reason for ousting the Congress. Thanks to Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Prime Minister Modi who during the NDA Government, has tripled the investment in rural roads, in comparison to what the UPA spent, there is a revolution in the Gram Sadak Yojana,” Jaitley said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Rahul assured farmers of Madhya Pradesh that his party would waive aside all loans within 10 days of coming to power in the state.
He further said his party would build a food processing unit in every district when it comes to power again in the state.
Rahul also promised that a government of his party in Madhya Pradesh would take action against those responsible for the police firing on farmers on this day last year.
“Even after one year, there hasn’t been an enquiry on the Mandsaur police firing. The families of the farmers who were killed are still waiting for justice,” Rahul said after spending some time with the families of the deceased farmers in Mandsaur. (ANI)