The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has responded sharply to Sonia Gandhi’s barbs on Prime Minister Narendra Modi Government’s 100 days in power, saying that the new Government is working at a fast pace to deliver on its promises. Talking for his Government, Union Minister for law and Justice, IT and Telecommunications Ravi Shankar Prasad said all decisions are being taken at PM’s residence at 7 RCR now, whereas during the UPA’s regime, 10 Janpath (Gandhi’s residence) was the real power centre.
On Saturday, Sonia Gandhi in an election rally in Haryana, had accused Modi of hijacking policies of the Congress-led UPA Government by renaming old schemes and presenting them as new. While terming BJP’s plans as ‘hollow promises’, she accused Modi of trying to show off as if everything has been done only after his Government came to power. She even questioned Modi on his promise to bring back black money from abroad.
Defending the PM, Prasad retorted by saying that if the Congress had worked so much, why the party has relegated to the sidelines and shrunk to mere 44 seats in lok Sabha. Prasad even took a jab on Sonia’s speech saying that the Congress president’s speech writers have “not done their home work properly.”
“I am pained to say that even after remaining out of power, Soniaji’s speech writers don’t do homework. That is why she sometimes says such things. She will realise her mistakes if she sees it in a mirror…Your Government (Congress) could not form a SIT on black money in two years despite Supreme Court directives. We constituted SIT on the very first Cabinet meeting. Now, the entire world, including Switzerland, is ready to cooperate with us,” Prasad said.
Comparing the working style of the BJP Government with that of the Congress, Prasad said while the UPA Government made only tall claims, Modi’s Government takes prompt decisions, which are promptly implemented.
“Soniaji, your Government gave a weak PM and no one including the party or any Minister listened to him. The BJP has given a strong PM. India today has a towering leader, a powerful PM whose voice is heard not only in the country, but in the entire world over with respect and admiration because of his track record of governance… Soniaji’s problem is that decisions are being made from 7 Race Course Road and there is no National Advisory CouncilIJ There has not been any 10 Janpath eitherIJ”
“If everything was right, then why did you lose so badlyIJ People of the country want to know the answer from Sonia Gandhi if all your programmes were so good, then why your party fared so miserably in the electionsIJ In your Government, people were talking much, but very little work used to be done. Now, it is different as the Government is working and there is no corruption. Soniaji, your Government had created an atmosphere of frustration in the country,” said Prasad.
Quoting PM Modi’s speech, Prasad said those who did not work for 60 years are now asking why nothing has been done in 60 days while underlining the success of the NDA Government’s Jan Dhan Yojana.