Borrow more to stimulate demand, revive economy: Chidambaram to govt
New Delhi: Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram on Sunday suggested the government to borrow more to help stimulate demand and revive the country's economy.
The senior Congress leader also suggested some measures to raise money which include relaxing FRBM norms, accelerating disinvestment and borrowing money from global banks.
As part of his measures to revive the economy, he sought transferring cash to the poorest 50 per cent of families, offering them foodgrains and increasing spending on infrastructure, besides paying arrears of GST compensation to states.
"Here are some concrete steps to stimulate demand/consumption and revive the economy: Transfer some cash to the poorest 50 percent of families. Offer food grain to all families, those who need will take it. Increase spending on infrastructure projects. Use food grain stock to pay wages in kind and start massive public works. Recapitalize banks to enable them to lend and Pay the arrears of GST compensation to the States," he said on Twitter.
"All of the above will need money. Borrow. Don't hesitate," he suggested. "Here are some concrete steps to raise money: Relax the FRBM norm and borrow more this year. Accelerate disinvestment. Use the offer of USD 6.5 billion by IMF, WB, ADB etc. As a last resort, monetise part of the deficit," he tweeted.
Chidambaram has been urging the government to take concrete measures to revive the economy and has called upon it to provide GST compensation to states, as promised to them at the time of GST implementation.
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Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
