India

BJP hails PM’s address as ‘bold’, opposition calls it ‘headline hunting’

New Delhi, May 12 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday may have announced an economic package, which, along with previous packages, will amount to a whopping Rs 20 lakh crore to not just pull India out of the economic slump, but also make it ‘self-reliant, but the opposition leaders do not seem to be much impressed.

Soon after the Prime Minister’s address to the nation on Tuesday evening, Congress MP Manish Tewari tweeted: “@PMOIndia‘s speech can be summed up in one word — HEADLINE HUNTING. A NUMBER — 20 LAKH CRORES. NO DETAILS.”

BJP turncoat and now Congress spokesperson Udit Raj said, “PM has announced a package of Rs 20 lakh crore. But where will the money come from?”

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Saurabh Bahrdwaj took a sharp jibe at the PM, claiming reforms will lead to events in three BJP ruled states. He was referring to the labour law reforms in three BJP ruled states where working hours and safety rule specifications have been diluted. Bhardwaj said, “#REFORMS — This is the key word, obviously it’s a veil. Remember 3 BJP states have already started labour reforms.”

The PM during his address said that Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and mobile technology have helped the poor and the marginalised during this lockdown and the ambit of reforms needs to be widened so that the impact in future is minimal on individuals.

Congress’ Jaiveer Shergil too took a potshot, tweeting, “Sincerely hope Rs 20 Lac CrorePackage is not scripted with same pen which was used to make following promises of giving everyone Rs 15Lac, Cleaning Maa Ganga, Bringing back black money in 100 days, Transforming Varanasi into Kyoto and Ending terrorism with demonetisation.”

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav posted three photos of migrant labourers travelling on buses to call the address “insensitive”, while Congress’ Randeep Surjewala alleged, “India is deeply disappointed by your utter lack of empathy, sensitivity and failure to address the woes of millions of Migrant Workers.”

However, in BJP quarters, Modi’s announcements were hailed with expected jubilation. BJP’s national General Secretary (organisation) B.L. Santosh tweeted, “Exactly 20 minutes into the address… 20 L Cr package for 2020 … WonderfulA @narendramodi ji.”

BJP chief J.P. Nadda was equally ecstatic in his response, saying, “In the times of Covid-19, Hon PM @narendramodi is leading the country from the front. The 21st century will be defined by India, Hon PM’s message today has laid (the) foundation stone for implementing this. #AatmanirbharBharat is our Mantra for driving (the) country towards this new change.”

He called it the ‘world’s largest holistic relief package’.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat called it a “bold” and “timely” decision by the Prime Minister. He also hailed Modi’s thrust on going local.

On Tuesday evening, Modi announced an economic package which along with previous packages and RBI reprieves will amount to Rs 20 lakh crore, which he claimed will address the issues pertaining to land, labour, liquidity and loss. The total economic package, Modi claimed, will be approximately 10 per cent of India’s GDP.

According to the Prime Minister, the package will help India achieve its ultimate goal of being “self- reliant”. “This package is for the farmers, for our middle class who honestly pay taxes and our industry players who are determined to take India to new heights,” Modi said.

–IANS

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