The Congress came for sharp attack at the BJP National Council meet on Saturday for practising an obstructionist policy and refusing to accept the verdict of the lok Sabha election. The Council also underlined the new Government’s future plans and policies and reassured that the BJP-led regime at the Centre would redeem the pledges given to the people in a definite timeframe.
Pointing out that the people gave a decisive mandate against divisive policies of casteism, corruption, incapability, and policy paralysis of the Congress, the resolution said, “The mandate of this election has been accepted very humbly by the BJP leadership, but the Congress is not able to digest their worst defeat. The desperation is clearly visible. Their scramble for the post of loP, their Opposition to the Bills which they presented during their tenure and disruption of parliament shows their inability to accept the people’s verdict.”
The sharp attack on the Congress came in the backdrop of standoff between the party and the BJP over the passage of the Insurance Bill. While the BJP wants early passage of the Bill, the Congress and eight other parties are insisting it should be sent to the select committee. Presenting the resolution, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the “tax terrorism” and “policy paralysis” were the buzz words during the Congress regime and the Narendra Modi Government’s challenge is to change that atmosphere.
“They were a liability on the economy of this country, when they were in power. They want to continue to be a liability even when they are in Opposition,” Jaitley said alleging that the opponents of the Government are making all efforts to discredit it. lauding the 75-days’ functioning of the BJP Government, Jaitley highlighted the setting up of the SIT to unearth the black money stashed aboard.” The decision of the Union Cabinet at its first meeting itself to set up a SIT headed by Justice MB Shah to bring back black money stashed abroad amply displayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decisive leadership. The issue of black money was very important for the country. The decision to constitute SIT was also in line with the party’s promise during pre-election to bring back black money from abroad,” he said.
Referring to historic mandate to the BJP “under Modi’s strong leadership”, the party resolution said that it reflected people’s pledge to “get rid of the 10-year-old rule of the non-performing and corruption riddled Congress-led UPA Government.” Jaitley also hit back at the Congress over its allegation that the NDA Government lacked “depth and seriousness” on foreign affairs issues and hailed the Prime Minister’s visit to the BRICS summit, Bhutan and Nepal as the one which marked strong international presence of India on the world map.
Jaitley said an impression was created that the Indian democracy was becoming dynastic democracy, but the results of the lok Sabha polls spelled doom for parties which were dependent on a particular family. “The people have given a decisive mandate against the divisive politics of casteism, corruption, incapability and policy paralysis of the Government,” the resolution said.
The resolution acknowledged the “huge contribution” of party president Amit Shah for BJP’s spectacular show in Uttar Pradesh, which was under his direct charge. Taking a jibe at Shah’s detractor, Jaitley said, “Our opponents understood Amit Shah long back. That is why they began targeting him years back. We realised his potential much later.”
The resolution talked about the need for strengthening the party’s organisation. “There is a lesson for the Organisation in these elections. The wave of popular leader and sentiment gets converted into votes where the organisation is strong and the local leadership is established. That is why it is essential to strengthen the organisation in all the States of the country and that is our responsibility,” it said.
Seconding the resolution, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan revived the “Jayanti Tax” barb to attack the UPA over “delay” in clearance of projects in the name of environmental safeguards.
Attacking the UPA over its Ministers functioning with different agenda, he compared it to a chariot whose horses were running in multiple directions pulling against each other and claimed that it was a welcome change since the Government under Modi came, as Ministers are now working with a clear focus and preparedness.
The resolution also complimented the Union Budget and praised Jaitley for laying the strong edifice for the realisation of the vision of “Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ of the Prime Minister . “ Members of the National Council would like to congratulate the BJP Government wholeheartedly for this budget which has been presented for building a strong and development oriented India,” it said. .
The resolution also paid the Rail Budget, concrete initiative on tackling price-rise, steps taken for cleaning the Ganga river and to ensure sanitation of its banks. It also praised External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s for taking steps to free Indians held hostage in Iraq. The resolution complimented the Government for taking pro-farmer stand at the WTO negotiations.