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The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were trying to polarise society rather than focus on improving the country’s economy, former PM Manmohan Singh said on Monday.
Singh said farmers were facing an acute crisis, youth were not finding opportunities, and the economy is growing below its potential. “The unfortunate truth is that each of these crises was entirely avoidable. It pains me to see how rather than standing up to all these challenges, the government’s response has been to stifle dissent when deficiencies are pointed out,” the Congress veteran said.
“Innovation needs support, and an environment where ideas can be discussed and debated without apprehension or inhibitions,” he added.
Taking a dig at Modi, Singh said economic policy has a significant impact on the lives of people and it is therefore essential that decision-makers pay careful attention to policies and programmes and not act on mere whims and fancies. “India is a complex and diverse country and no one person can be the repository of all wisdom. Every time we have sought an answer for any of the disastrous policies of the present BJP government, all we hear is that ‘the intentions’ are virtuous,” he said.
He added that the ‘intentions’ of the Modi government had resulted in massive losses for our country. “The UPA delivered an average growth rate of 7.8 per cent despite turbulent global conditions. The NDA, on the other hand, has managed lesser growth rate despite a favourable international climate and low oil prices,” he claimed.
“Since the present government has assumed power, international crude oil prices have declined 67 per cent. However, petrol and diesel prices have on average increased at 110 per cent on both these products. Through constant increase in taxes and at the cost of the common man, the BJP government is projected to have earned over ₹10-lakh crore. India must demand answers as to what use this money was put to,” he said.
Singh reiterated that demonetisation and the hasty implementation of GST were avoidable and blunders. He also questioned the Centre’s banking policy. “The quantum of frauds in the banking sector has almost quadrupled — from ₹28,416 crore in September 2013 to ₹1.11-lakh crore in September 2017. Perpetrators of these frauds, meanwhile, escape with impunity.”
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