Nothing new about NDA reforms: Cong

J N Dixit, former foreign secretary and vice-chairman of the AICC committee on foreign affairs here today termed the talk about 'India Shining' as nothing but spreading falsehood by the BJP.

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Friday, he took strong exception to the NDA government's projection of several initiatives including the improvement in Indo-Pak relations and economic reforms as if they were all new.

"They say so much about the Golden Quadrilateral project. But in actual terms the project is more about widening of existing roads," he retorted.

On economic growth, Dixit observed that finance minister Jaswant Singh's statistics about the GDP growth rate, fiscal deficit hold no water either.

"They say that the GDP growth rate under NDA rule has gone up to eight per cent. But they were actually quoting the figures of the last quarter of the financial year when for the rest of the period it was below six per cent," he said.

Dixit also alleged that the fundamental philosophy of Bharatiya Janata Party and Sangh Parivar has not changed as being projected on election eve, and which is against the spirit of tolerance preached by Hinduism.

"Minorities are feeling threatened under the NDA's rule. What we need today is to take care of the welfare of minorities and not just the talk of Indo-Pak cricket match," he said.

He also blamed the NDA government for the lack of clarity and a clear-cut policy with regard to the intentions of the Pakistan regime.

Questioning the state government's claims on development, Dixit asked the ruling party to disclose how much foreign investment had come into manufacturing and resource building sectors in the last nine years.

He alleged that the state government had failed to control the growing unemployment and the closing down of factories.