Terming Delhi as one of the most prosperous cities in the nation, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday claimed that her Government had improved the city’s economy manifold in the past 15 years.
Not only is Delhi’s per capita income the highest, but even the power scenario has changed for the better, she said. Dikshit further attacked the Opposition of ‘misleading’ the people and claimed that Delhi was doing much better than Gujarat, of which BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is the Chief Minister.
Eyeing a fourth successive victory in December 4 Assembly polls, Dikshit cited Government statistics to negate BJP’s claim of Gujarat’s growth rate. “I am criticising the BJP because it always trumpets about Gujarat’s achievement. They are misleading the people,” she said. Highlighting Delhi’s economic growth, she said the average growth rate in the Capital was 10.33 per cent in the last five years compared to Gujarat’s 9.51 per cent, even as the national average was 8.03 per cent.
“Delhi’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is much higher than Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Punjab and Jharkhand. The contribution of Delhi to the total GDP at the national level is 3.8 per cent, though it has only 1.4 per cent share in total population of the country,” Dikshit said at a media briefing held at her residence. The Chief Minister said the per capita income in the city, which is over Rs2 lakh against the national average of around Rs68,000, also reflected better economic environment here.
“Do not underestimate our achievements. Delhi is much ahead of Gujarat. It is the most attractive place for job seekers,” said the Chief Minister, who was flanked by her Cabinet colleagues Haroon Yusuf, Raj Kumar Chauhan and Arvinder Singh lovely. Dikshit’s comments came a day after Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel accused her of ‘belittling’ growth and development in Gujarat and described her 15-year tenure as a ‘disaster’ for Delhi.
Dikshit further stated that the Opposition parties have been befooling people by making impossible promises on reducing power tariff by 30 per cent. While replying to a query on onion prices, Dikshit made it clear that her Government has been intervening from time to time to provide relief to the people from the exceptional hike in the prices of essential commodities.
Replying to a question on whether she was concerned over AAP’s campaign against her Government, Dikshit said that Aam Aadmi Party has drawn people’s attention but expressed doubts whether it will translate into votes in the coming Assembly polls. “It is a new entrant in the political field. It has drawn people’s attention but I am not sure whether it will be able to make any impact. BJP is our main contender and the main fight will be between Congress and BJP,” she said, adding, “The situation is not very clear as of now. It will be clear once the parties announce their candidates”.