Chidambaram slams government over 'economic mismanagement'
New Delhi, July 14 : Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Friday slammed the government over its poor management of economy, saying inflation is at five-month high, industrial growth at five-month low and the trade deficit has soared.
Chidambaram, a former Finance Minister, said in tweets that exports were lower in June compared to May and the imports higher. He said despite the higher trade deficit, the government would continue to say that all is well.
"After 5-month-high inflation and 7-month-low industrial growth comes the news of soaring trade deficit."
"June exports lower than May. June imports higher than May. June trade deficit higher by $2 billion. But the government will say all is well," he said.
Chidambaram said the Congress leaders had estimated that demonetisation would lead to a cut in growth rate by 1.5 per cent and the outgoing Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian has said that purging high currency notes in November 2016 led to a definite slowing down of economy.
The official data showed on Thursday that retail inflation in India touched the 5 per cent-mark in June, compared to 4.87 per cent in May, even as industrial output in May grew at 3.2 per cent compared to the same month last year but declined as compared to rise of 4.9 per cent in April mainly on account of a decline in manufacturing.
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Govt examining on Guv writing letters seeking reports on 'trivial matters': CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot is writing letters seeking reports on "trivial matters", and the state government was examining them.
Hitting back at the BJP, by questioning their inaction while in power in connection with Justice H S Kempanna Commission's report on the alleged Arkavathy Layout scam, he said the government will take a decision on the report, after considering various aspects in connection with it.
The Governor has written to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh seeking a copy of the Kempanna Commission's report and other related information into the alleged Arkavathy Layout denotification scam, in which Siddaramaiah was accused of denotifying land during his first term.
"I don't know, I will look into it. The BJP was there (in power) for four years. Why didn't they do it? They were in power, why didn't they place it (report) before the Assembly? Now C T Ravi (BJP MLC) has written a letter (to Governor). He was a minister (in BJP govt). Why didn't they do it then? I had said to do it," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question about the Arkavathy Layout case.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Do you know what has happened now? There was a Keshavanarayana headed committee (that was formed) on it, all these things needed to be looked into. After looking into it, we will take a decision."
C T Ravi had recently written to the Governor asking him to get Siddaramaiah to make Justice Kempanna's report public.
The Justice Kempanna Commission was constituted in 2014 during Siddaramaiah's first stint as the chief minister following allegations of illegality. The Commission's report was submitted in 2017, when Siddaramaiah was still the CM, but was not made public.
Asked whether the government is thinking about complaining to the President against the Governor, the CM said, "No, we are examining. The Governor (is writing letters seeking reports) on small matters."
"Someone has given a complaint. I'm telling you just like that, someone from Mysuru has complained that I used to always sign in Kannada, but has (in some document) signed in English, so please inquire into it. Is it an issue? I can sign in English or Kannada. Anyone can sign in whichever language they want," he said.
"I normally sign in Kannada to drafts that are in Kannada. The drafts that are in English that are normally (letters) to other states or the Central government, I sign in English. What's wrong with it? Is it wrong according to you? Even on such trivial matters, if reports are sought (by the Governor)? You tell me..." he said.
