launching a scathing attack, Union Finance minister Arun Jaitley said that gangsterism has become a tradition in Uttar Pradesh which has been given respectability in politics by the Samajwadi Party.
“In UP, the issue is not of poor law and order. Anarchy prevails in the state where a businessman is killed and the women who levelled charges of rape against a ruling party MlA is also murdered. For public consumption, the Chief Minister takes a position against tainted elements in the party. But later he changes his mind and embraces and gives them party ticket for the Assembly polls,’’ charged Arun Jaitley while speaking to media persons in lucknow on Tuesday.
Replying to a question, the Finance minister termed as `hollow’ the claim of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav who has been showcasing lucknow—Agra Expressway as a major achievement of his government.
``Its silly on part of the UP chief minister to seek votes on the basis of an incomplete highway. The NDA government has fixed a target of constructing 10,000 km of national highway every year and 33 km per day. We have achieved the target of constructing 23 km per day and presently as many as 240 highways are under construction across the country. If somebody claims that he has constructed a road then it’s a case of `weird development’,’’ commented Jaitley.
Responding to a question, the Union minister denied that the NDA government had waived off loans to the tune of Rs 1.10 lakh crore of industrial houses. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in his poll meetings in UP has repeatedly alleged that the NDA government had waived off loan amounting to Rs 1.10 lakh crore of industrialists.
``It does not behove a senior leader to level baseless allegations which has nothing to do with the truth. Not even a rupee of loan has been waived by this government ever since it assumed power on May 26 2014,’’ said Jaitley.
He added, “It’s also possible that the Congress leader is not well informed. In fact, he is levelling the charge against his own party and the previous UPA government as loans were sanctioned in 2007-08 and 2008-09. Such loans to industrial houses are now non-performing assets and interest is accumulating.’’
Terming the Congress – Samajwadi party alliance as an `alliance under compulsion and devoid of any ideological basis’, Jaitley said, “The basis of Socialist movement was anti- Congressism. Thuis movement has now degenerated in UP and the leaders have preferred ideology to dynasty.’’
“Both parties prefer dynasty over ideology and both have the same argument against the drive launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against black money. Both favoured excess cash economy which promoted black money. The stand of both parties have no ideological basis and they find nothing wrong with a system that promotes corruption,’’ charged the Union Finance minister.
Asked whether demonetisation was implemented with an eye of UP Assembly election, Jaitely dismissively said, ``I will not like to link demonetisation with elections as it has nothing to do with elections,. Its part of the government’s programme to clean up the economic and political systems.’’
The Financer minister informed, “India is an excessive cash economy where cash in circulation in 12.2 percent of the GDP which is highest in the world. The high value currency was as high as 86 percent of the total circulating currency. Reducing cash and substituting it with other modes will help integration of informal economy with formal economy. Remonetisation has almost been completed and Reserve Bank of India has lifted all restrictions of withdrawal of cash and there was no problem anywhere in the country.”