'Frustrated' Cong trying to tarnish image of Modi govt: BJP

BJP today hit back at Congress over its claims that tainted persons were inducted into the NDA Cabinet and said the party was making baseless allegations as it was becoming frustrated due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's growing popularity among the masses.
"There are no tainted ministers or those with criminal records in the Union Cabinet. Cases pending against some are those which are politically-motivated by Congress or its alliance partners in which no proof has been provided in courts to substantiate the allegations," said BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma.
He was reacting to Congress's charge that Modi has inducted "tainted" ministers in his Cabinet.

"It is the frustration of the Congress that is coming out in the form of such false and baseless allegations aimed at tarnishing the image of the Modi government.
"Congress has no moral right to make such allegations as it has lost its credibility among the public," added Sharma.
He went on to say that the reason why the Prime Minister had called for the fast-tracking of cases against politicians was that some of these are politically-motivated and so should be disposed of within a year.

The Prime Minister undertook an expansion of his council of ministers yesterday and reshuffled portfolios while bringing in 21 new faces into the government.

In the wake of the Cabinet expansion, Congress leader Ajay Maken had alleged that some "tainted" people had found a place in the Modi government. He had claimed that at least 13 ministers who were inducted earlier into Modi's Cabinet were already tainted and he inducted more yesterday.
"Congress is baffled by Modi's growing popularity among the people for his initiatives taken for the welfare of the common public and its frustration is coming out in this manner," Sharma said.
Be it the Jan Dhan Yojna, PM Adarsh Gram Yojna, PM Pension Yojna or any other initiative launched by Modi, all have been accepted well and lauded by the public, said Sharma.

"The popularity of the Prime Minister has grown among the masses and Congress cannot digest it as it is unable to find a political foothold at the grassroots. What Congress could not achieve in 60 years, the BJP-led government has done in just five months," he said.
Sharma said that the NDA government has brought down the prices of petrol and diesel and under it the economy has improved even as the sense of despondency among the people is waning and new hopes have been kindled.