Jaitley should write FB post on who is FM, says Congress
New Delhi, July 13 : Countering Union Minister Arun Jaitley, the Congress on Friday said he should write a Facebook post on who is Indias Finance Minister and about economic woes, while adding that it has become a "One Man-No government" situation.
The party also asked if the country under the Narendra Modi government has become a "banana republic".
Jaitley on Friday accused the Congress of giving only slogans to the poor and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given them resources which would ensure faster growth and faster removal of poverty.
"I would request Arun Jaitley to write a Facebook post on who is India's Finance Minister. That is the most important thing he needs to do. He must solve that mystery.
"He must clarify as to whether he is India's Finance Minister or it is Piyush Goyalji. At least people will know who is pushing the economy on the brink of such misery," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.
Surjewala also advised Jaitley to write a Facebook post on the economic woes that "Modinomics" has heaped upon India.
"Inflation reaching 5 to 6 per cent, Index of Industrial Production going down, exports going down from Rs 19 lakh crore to Rs 10 lakh crore.
"Gross Fixed Capital formation being static or reducing from about 31.5 to 28 per cent, fuel prices getting skyrocketed, import of cheaper fuel from countries like Iran getting reduced from 7,75,000 barrels a day to 5,25,000 barrels a day," he added.
He said: "As price of diesel goes up by 77 Paisa and price of petrol by one rupee, a hole is being dug in the pocket of the common man. GST getting more complicated by the day, refunds not being made available to exporters and input credits becoming one of the biggest nightmare that small traders and businesses face."
Surjewala said: "Ministers without portfolio speak about agriculture, AQgriculture Minister speaks on defence, Defence Minister talks about social justice and Social Justice Minister gives ‘gyan' on foreign policy.
"External Affairs minister (Sushma Swaraj) does not know how to save herself from trolls being followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What is happening? Is this a government or a banana republic?" he asked.
"Maximum governance was the original slogan that Modiji gave. Now it has become ‘One Man-No Government'," he added.
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CPI(M) rebel Kunhikrishnan hopes for 5,000-vote win in Payyanur
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): CPI(M) rebel candidate V Kunhikrishnan, who contested as a UDF-backed Independent from Payyanur here, on Saturday said he was hoping to win the Assembly election by a margin of 5,000 votes.
Kunhikrishnan was expelled from the CPI(M) earlier this year after raising allegations of corruption in the party’s martyrs’ fund against sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan.
Speaking to a TV channel, Kunhikrishnan said he had announced his candidature as a mark of protest and not with expectations of victory.
However, he said the situation had changed drastically, with a strong undercurrent within CPI(M) votes favouring him.
"The undercurrent in CPI(M) votes cannot be measured. Now people are giving a response indicating victory with a margin of at least 5,000 votes," he said.
Payyanur is considered a CPI(M) stronghold, and a defeat for Madhusoodanan there would be a major setback for the party.
On political violence in Payyanur, Kunhikrishnan said he had been facing it since filing his nomination.
"The people leading this violence should think about how long they can continue it. It is the police which has to take the initiative to stop this violence as part of maintaining law and order. But the police are not intervening at the required level," he said.
Regarding his political future, Kunhikrishnan said efforts were underway to strengthen Left groups, and discussions were being held across Kerala in that regard.
"After discussing with others, a decision will be taken," he said.
Kunhikrishnan is among six former CPI(M) leaders who either exited the party or were suspended before contesting for the UDF in the April 9 Assembly elections.
Elections to the 140-seat Kerala Assembly were held on April 9, and the counting of votes will be held on May 4.
