Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday said he does not want to compete with PM Narendra Modi to take a pity on the basis of a humble background.
“I do not want the country to take pity on me on the basis of my humble background. I do not think I would like to enter into any competition with Prime Minister Modi Ji on this particular matter,” Singh said.
The former PM talked about the contribution of the Congress governments. “You know that I have seen crippling poverty while growing up on another side of Punjab before Partition. I have also seen the significant strides our great nation has taken in my lifetime, building on the foundations laid by Congress governments from Pandit Nehru to Narasimha Rao,” he added that demonetisation, coupled with poor implementation of GST and rise of “tax terrorism” have “certainly damaged small- and medium-scale businesses.”
He asked about the claim that 2 lakh companies had closed down during the UPA era, Singh said, “There were some problems, and effective action was taken against the guilty, found after proper examination. I am not sure what actions Modi-Ji has in mind; he never expresses.” He said ” Demonetisation was clearly not a solution. It was suggested many times in the past, but as a responsible government we never took the drastic measure — its costs exceeded the benefits substantially.”
Asked about Modi’s assertion during the election campaign that the Congress was anti-Gujarati, Singh said, “I was surprised, During election times many things are said, but if they are gross distortion they needed to be rebutted. Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi’s face is on every currency note…Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru had worked for hand in hand to consolidate the gains of freedom. Nothing is gained, as is often attempted by Modi-ji, to pit the two great leaders.”
Singh said it is “worrying” that in a world where “economic policies are becoming increasingly complex, we are not developing a culture where policy options are critically assessed, and criticisms offered are listened to take corrective actions. If leaders only want to be praised, they will hear only praise. This is not a recipe for development.”
Comparing the economic reforms ushered in by the NDA with those carried out by the UPA, Singh said, “When the BJP came to power in 2014 the country was going through a slowdown and there were global factors…and our inability to resolve domestic problems. When UPA 1 and 2 were in power, the GDP was 7.8 percent, but the NDA (government), when it came to power, assured that it will take the growth to 8 -10 percent. “In last three, years the average is only 7.3 percent.”
Comparing the economic reforms by the NDA with those carried out by the UPA, Singh said, “When the BJP came to power in 2014 the country was going through a slowdown and there were global factors and our inability to resolve domestic problems. When UPA 1 and 2 were in power, the GDP was 7.8 percent, but the NDA, when it came to power, assured that it will take the growth to 8 -10 percent. “In last three, years the average is only 7.3 percent.”
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