Jakhar: BJP experimenting dangerously with economy
PATHANKOT : Congress candidate for Gurdaspur bypoll Sunil Jakhar on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union finance minister Arun Jaitley for the “poor” economic condition in the country.
Campaigning in the Bhoa assembly segment of Pathankot district, Jakhar said, “The situation will worsen if people continue to support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as it continues to perform dangerous experiments with the country’s economy.”
Taking a dig at Jaitley, Jakhar alleged that rules were “twisted to benefit” big businesses like those owned by the Adani and Ambani groups. He added that because of this, smaller players in the market are at the receiving end.
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief added that after the Centre’s demonetisation decision, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had warned in the Rajya Sabha that the economy will be badly hit. “His warning proved right and the country is witnessing a decline in the GDP,” Jakhar said.
The Congress leader added that the coming days will be worrisome for those in the small and medium businesses. “The traders are dejected because of the current market condition,” he claimed.
Taking a dig at the Badal family in Punjab, Jakhar said its members are “busy filling their pockets”. He also accused them of “grabbing all business”.
He added, “People became aware of the family’s motives and rejected them in the assembly elections, even though the Badals had claimed that will remain in power for 25 years.”
He cited the “poor” condition of the roads in the area to highlight the lack of development under the SAD-BJP alliance.
“The Badals spent crores of rupees on building seven-star hotels while ignoring the basic development needs of Punjab,” he alleged.
Addressing a meeting of party workers at Bhoa, Jakhar challenged the Centre to disclose as to who really benefited from demonetisation.
“Let him (Jaitley) come and tell the people (as to) who benefited from demonetisation,” said Jakhar.
“The common man is suffering and struggling to manage three meals a day under the Modi regime,” he said, adding that only big corporates would be “celebrating” Diwali this year.
Jakhar also criticised the Centre for doling out tax incentives to hilly states, alleging that no industry will come to the border belt of the state if such “antiPunjab” policies of the Centre continued.
Promising holistic development of the region, Jakhar said the Congress government led by Captain Amarinder Singh in Punjab is working to ensure all basic amenities for the people, including clean drinking water and proper roads, among others.
The common man is struggling to manage three meals a day under the Modi regime. SUNIL JAKHAR,
Punjab Congress chief