Union minister dodges critical questions, extols Modi govt

CHENNAI: Union minister of State for Science and Technology Jithendra Singh on Monday dodged questions on the way the wrestlers’ protest was handled by the centre, while praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government. The country is seeing an era of new resurgence, he claimed.

The journey from 2014 has put an end to pessimism of the previous era and ushered in fresh optimism for new India, the minister said. The minister, however, refused to speak on issues pertaining to withdrawal of Rs 2,000 currency notes, arrest of protesting wrestlers in the national capital and a few other critical issues.

The minister brushed aside the arrest of protesting wrestlers in Delhi saying “it was a different issue”. Jithendra Singh said he would restrict himself to the achievements of Modi’s government.

“India has become the World’s frontline nation. It was possible because of personal outreach and vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has emerged as the world’s tallest leader. He has raised India’s esteem in the international arena,” he told the media in Chennai.

But the minister was forced to respond to a question on the delayed construction of AIIMS in Madurai. He assured that the project would be expedited and to be completed by February 2026. “In the last 70 years, there were only seven AIIMS. But in the last nine years, we added 15 AIIMS. Delay or no delay, at least you got it (AIIMS in Madurai),” the minister countered journalists while responding to a question on a poor fund allocation of Rs 23 crore till February this year for Madurai AIIMS. It may be recalled that Modi laid the foundation stone ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The minister harped on Modi government’s schemes and projects sharing statistics about the change that happened after the BJP government took over in 2014.

The journey from 2014 has put an end to pessimism of the previous era —Jithendra Singh, Union minister of State for Science and Tech