BJP mopped up ~10 trn by way of tax hikes: Manmohan

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh onMonday said global crude oil prices declined 67 per cent since the Modi government took over but petrol and diesel prices at home have on an average increased by 110 per cent. He was speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru.

He further took a dig on tax policy of the Modi government.

“Through constant increase in taxes at the cost of the common man the BJP government is projected to have earned over ~10 trillion. India must demand answers as to what use this money was put to,” Singh said.

The quantum of frauds in the banking sector had almost quadrupled from ~284 billion in September 2013 to ~1.11 trillion in September 2017, he said. The former PM said banks are neither lending and nor is the private sector borrowing for new investment.

Meanwhile, addressing the BJP youth wing workers via the Narendra Modi App in morning, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the opposition parties have opposed technology, whether the Aadhaar card or electronic voting machines (EVMs), or even mobile phones. He said the BJP wanted to promote a modern India, giving importance to skill development and innovation.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi rode a bicycle and then addressed a gathering while standing on a bullock cart in Kolar district, to highlight rising fuel prices. Polling for the Karnataka Assembly is scheduled for Saturday, and counting is on May 15. Campaigning ends on Thursday.