The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre is "clearing up the accumulated challenges," Union Minister Arun Jaitley claimed on Sunday reacting to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's allegations on the present government.
In an interview, Manmohan Singh had said that there is a crisis of confidence in the government and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must give "every Indian" the confidence that he cares for people's well-being.
In a post on his Facebook account, Jaitley wrote that it is only during the current government that "many stalled infrastructure projects have now started moving. India’s journey is from ‘policy-paralysis’ to a global ‘bright-spot’, as the fastest growing economy moves on notwithstanding major challenges."
He also alleged that in the previous United Progressive Alliance government, the decisions were taken at 24 Akbar Road (Congress office) instead of the PM's office.
Claiming that it was only the Congress that was hampering the process of the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax, he said, "The economist in Dr Singh should advice his party that tariff are not provided for in the Constitution.
Here is the full text of Jaitley's Facebook post:
What Dr. Manmohan Singh should advise his Party?
Former Presidents and Prime Ministers rarely speak, but when they do, the nation should listen to them with rapt attention. They represent the wisdom of the nation. They are expected to be non-partisan, render constructive advice and at times send a powerful message even to their own political party to act in broader national interest. Having consistently held Dr. Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister in high respect, I expect the same from him.
I have read his interview in the latest edition of “India Today”, particularly his concern that the Prime Minister and the Government are not reaching out to the opposition. He feels that the Government is not doing enough to move up the country’s economy.
I am sure if Dr. Singh would dispassionately analyse the present Government, he would really realize that India has a Government where the Prime Minister has the last word, where natural resources are allocated without corruption through transparent process, where industrialists no longer visit North Block to push files/decisions, where environmental clearances are dealt with in routine and not stalled on sadistic or corrupt considerations. Has there been any change in the work culture of the Government? During the UPA Government, the public sector banks were hardly run by their own Boards or even by North Block. They were run from 24, Akbar Road. In Power and Infrastructure areas, sectoral challenges were not addressed during the UPA. It is the present Government which is clearing up these accumulated challenges.
Many stalled infrastructure projects have now started moving. India’s journey is from ‘policy-paralysis’ to a global ‘bright-spot’, as the fastest growing economy moves on notwithstanding major challenges.
On consultations with the opposition, almost all political parties except the Congress, support the GST. The Congress has done a volte face. Both the Parliamentary Affairs Minister and myself have discussed the GST with every senior Congress leader in Parliament. Is the Congress position on “Constitutional cap” not motivated by real politics? The economist in Dr Singh should advice his party that tariff are not provided for in the Constitution. This is what nation expects from the senior leaders and statesmen like former Prime Ministers.
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