BJP’s Sinha on warpath: Why ‘growth at any cost’ policies?
The government came under a scathing Opposition attack during a discussion on rising prices in the Lok Sabha Wednesday. This was after the Opposition stalled Parliament for two days, prompting the government to agree to a discussion under a rule that will allow voting.
Amid reports that the ruling side had struck a deal with the BJP on the motion, leaving the Left out in the cold, the CPI’s Gurudas Dasgupta moved an amendment to it on Wednesday. Former finance minister and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, who initiated the discussion, however, denied any such deal.
In an hour-long address, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee listening intently, Mr Sinha claimed the government’s policies had helped blackmarketers and hoarders rob the common man of an additional `6 lakh crores over the past three years.
Mr Sinha also attacked the government over its emphasis on growth targets. “We totally reject the theory that growth is required at any cost. Growth for what? To dispossess the poor, push them further into poverty?” The former finance minister also wondered aloud if the poor and hungry could “eat” growth.
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