'BJP campaigning to belittle Cong achievements'

All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesman Sanjay Jha accused BJP of an orchestrated campaign to belittle UPA achievements and questioned why BJP's former finance minister Yashwant Sinha had not mentioned the 2007-08 financial turmoil in his 18 queries to P Chidambaram.
Addressing a press conference here today, Jha said Sinha's statements omitted the fact that the world was hit by a financial turmoil in 2007-08.
"Sinha deliberately chose to distort facts by not mentioning it," he said.
"When the whole world was in turmoil, India grew at around 9 per cent and 140 million people were brought above the poverty line. India achieved growth and equity. It was inclusive growth. Foreign exchange reserves were USD 300 billion.

"The economy is back on track and inflation is on the decline. The current account deficit has reduced and fiscal deficit is stable. There is huge positiveness, but the BJP is trying to create a debate when none should exist," he said.
Hitting out at the Gujarat model of development, Jha said the state was in the forefront of crony capitalism.

"People are asking fundamental questions about development and growth. They have realised that lot of good positive work has been done and the BJP is nervous. Gujarat is a case study in crony capitalism.
"The Gujarat Chief Minister did not know what was happening in 2002. BJP is a party of not merely the rich, but super rich," he said, adding that if there had been no Parliament paralysis, GDP would have grown by an additional 1.25 per cent.

He said that the so-called "Modi wave" is now a "Save Modi" campaign.