Bhubaneswar: Former PCC president Niranjan Patnaik has
criticized the BJP for betraying the trust of the people by increasing passenger
rail fare by 14.2 % and freight by 6 % at a time when the country is already
reeling under severe inflationary pressure because of rise in prices of onion
and potatoes and there is serious apprehension of a further rise in prices of
Petrol and Diesel because of the growing uncertainties in the entire middle
east and particularly Iraq.
criticized the BJP for betraying the trust of the people by increasing passenger
rail fare by 14.2 % and freight by 6 % at a time when the country is already
reeling under severe inflationary pressure because of rise in prices of onion
and potatoes and there is serious apprehension of a further rise in prices of
Petrol and Diesel because of the growing uncertainties in the entire middle
east and particularly Iraq.
The increase passenger fare and freight charges will have a
cascading effect and drive the economy into an inflationary spiral, Patnaik
alleged in a press release.
cascading effect and drive the economy into an inflationary spiral, Patnaik
alleged in a press release.
Patnaik said, “While campaigning during election BJP had
promised to the people of India that they will reign in inflation. But, once
they secured the mandate of the people they are talking about ‘bitter pill’. In
the past all such economic decisions by the UPA Government was termed as ‘anti-people’
and now they have become ‘necessities for a stronger economy’. People of India
have been cheated by supposedly an honest government.”
promised to the people of India that they will reign in inflation. But, once
they secured the mandate of the people they are talking about ‘bitter pill’. In
the past all such economic decisions by the UPA Government was termed as ‘anti-people’
and now they have become ‘necessities for a stronger economy’. People of India
have been cheated by supposedly an honest government.”
The Railways have not been incurring any operational loss
and therefore the central Government should have waited for the regular budget
to find funds for ongoing railway projects. The UPA Government had already
allowed infusion of additional funds into the railways by allowing investment
by the private sector on the PPP mode in dedicated freight corridor though the response
had not been encouraging, Patnaik said.
and therefore the central Government should have waited for the regular budget
to find funds for ongoing railway projects. The UPA Government had already
allowed infusion of additional funds into the railways by allowing investment
by the private sector on the PPP mode in dedicated freight corridor though the response
had not been encouraging, Patnaik said.
The former PCC President also criticized the state
government for their subdued criticism of the Central Government. “After
parading his MPs before the Delhi durbar and promising constructive support
Naveen Babu is in no position to speak strongly against the Central Government.
In fact, why was he parading his MPs when other CMs like Jaylalitha met the PM
in a dignified official way? What was he trying to prove by parading his MPs
before the PM,” Patnaik wanted to know.
government for their subdued criticism of the Central Government. “After
parading his MPs before the Delhi durbar and promising constructive support
Naveen Babu is in no position to speak strongly against the Central Government.
In fact, why was he parading his MPs when other CMs like Jaylalitha met the PM
in a dignified official way? What was he trying to prove by parading his MPs
before the PM,” Patnaik wanted to know.
“The decision of the
state Government is ill-timed, unjustified and avoidable. The problem is BJD is
clue less about economic growth and find no way of augmenting revenue
collection and have passed on the burden to the common man to fund populist
sops that can win votes. Why has the growth rate dipped and why has the revenue
collection been poor except poor management of the state’s economy?” Patnaik
stated.
state Government is ill-timed, unjustified and avoidable. The problem is BJD is
clue less about economic growth and find no way of augmenting revenue
collection and have passed on the burden to the common man to fund populist
sops that can win votes. Why has the growth rate dipped and why has the revenue
collection been poor except poor management of the state’s economy?” Patnaik
stated.
The former Minister has demanded an immediate roll back on
the rise in passenger fare by the central government and the increase in excise
on petroleum products by the state government. It seems the BJP in Delhi and
the BJD in the state are competing against each other to produce higher rates
of inflation only after a few days of winning the election.
the rise in passenger fare by the central government and the increase in excise
on petroleum products by the state government. It seems the BJP in Delhi and
the BJD in the state are competing against each other to produce higher rates
of inflation only after a few days of winning the election.