 "UPA a liability in power and in Opposition: Jaitley")
The Union minister was speaking at the BJP's national council meeting held here. Jaitley accused the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of failing to check corruption and poor showing on the economic front, internal security, foreign policy and other sectors. "When the Congress was in power, its policies had become a liability on this country and its economy. Even as an opposition now, their role is the same, to create obstacles so that the NDA cannot achieve quick progress," Jaitley said.
"From what has been seen in the last one week, this is what is becoming clear...They were a liability on the economy when in power, they want to continue to be a liability when they are in opposition," he said.
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Jaitley, however, expressed confidence that BJP "will fulfil" the historical mandate that it has been handed over by the people.
Jaitley also said in WTO, the Modi government took a "pro-farmer and pro-poor stance", and despite criticism from other countries it stuck to it. He said the government is trying to create an investment-friendly climate in the country.
He said words like "policy paralysis", "tax terrorism" were often used during UPA regime, which are areas where the present government is trying to usher in change.
He said monitoring and keeping prices of food items in control has also been done at the highest levels.
Jaitley said that for economy to grow, a favourable tax regime is needed and claimed this has been the first government to say that we are a "low taxation government" and not a "high taxation government like the UPA".
He said incentives will be given in small and medium enterprises as well as in the power sector.
"There was clarity and we even have allocated funds. Our Kashmiri Pandit brothers, who want to go back to the Valley, the government will provide them with the means and whatever is needed for their stay, we will build them," he said.