Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru (VP)

Mangaluru, Apr 21: Former union minister Dr M Veerappa Moily criticised the BJP government over the long election schedule and for not standing on their promises given to the public in the previous elections.

 

He also said that there is no BJP or NDA it's just Modi all the way and that's why the party is propagating 'One Nation One Election'.

Addressing news persons on Sunday, April 21 at the Congress office here in Malikatte, Moily said, "The first phase of elections is slated for April 26 and the second phase on May 7. The poll results will be announced on June 4. Back in those days during the elections a delay of 20 days was considered normal but this time there is a delay of almost two months. With the advancement of technology, the time taken for completion of the election process should also be reduced. The delay will give room for doubts of causing manipulation and create distrust in this election. In 2004, Vajpayee said the India Shining campaign didn't get executed and if we compare Narendra Modi to Atal Bihari Vajpayee then the former is nowhere before Vajipayee. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had once said that "I disapprove what you say but I will defend your right to express." Similarly, BJP leaders like L K Advani and Vajipayee said 'nation comes first, party comes next then later comes self' but today BJP manifesto says 'Modi ki Guarantee and has sidelined the party. Deve Gowda had blamed Yediyurappa in the past but is  now is sharing the same stage. Major airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru were built by Congress. I wanted to build the biggest airport in Mangaluru which would transform the local economy but unfortunately we lost out. Many companies such as MRPL and Cochin refineries were initiated by me and thee piped gas connection from Bengaluru to Mangaluru was also done by me."

 

He further said, "Many agencies have predicted that the NDA alliance will secure only 150-200 seats and there is no way they can win. The youths of the country are facing the problem of unemployment and nearly 40% of graduates are unemployed today. Farmers play a major role in our economy and the BJP had promised that they will double their income but they couldn't do so. The tensed farmers protested in their villages, states and even went to Delhi and hundreds of farmers died. BJP said 'Beti bachao Beti padhao' but when I was the law minister the Congress party had created funds called 'Nirbhaya funds' but later it was also underfunded and today women have lost trust in their security."

"A report says that the young voters are not interested in politics and over 60% of the youths have not registered. The Henley report says that over 6,500 high networth individuals (HNIs) have left the country and this shows the situation that we are in today. The Income and Welfare Inequality in India report says that there is a significant rise in the number billionaires and this has caused serious concern because there are a number of people on the other hand who cannot afford basic needs. India's top 1% of the people control the economy. In Mumbai over 84 additional billionaires have erupted in recent times and although India will become the third largest country economically it will still remain a poor country. India will be called a rich country with poor people and there is no need to celebrate this achievement. India today stands at 139th place in the world in terms of per capita income and all this has been given to us by Narendra Modi," he said.

Moily further added that, "A research study says that 85% of Indians are okay with a military dictatorship. During the UPA government the GDP of India was stood at $2.8 trillion while the GDP of China was $10.8 trillion. Today, after 10 years the GDP of India stands at $3 trillion while that of China stands at $18.5 trillion. India is going down while China is marching upwards in terms of economy. During our tenure the debt of the country was at Rs 55,87,333 crore and in 10 years this number has tripled."

"The foreign exchange reserve index has gone down and a person with one lac rupee turnover is paying crores of rupees in electoral bonds. A company which has declared its bankruptcy is paying Rs 100 crores in electoral bonds and all of this is on record. The BJP has become a washing machine for corrupt politicians of other parties where they are given a clean chit once they join their party. The Ujwala scheme and Aadhar card was brought by me and the biggest reason for inflation is petrol and diesel prices. The BJP has no capacity to control it." he said.

On former mayor Kavitha Sanil's defection from Congress, Veerappa Moily said, "These things are common and while she was in the party we had supported her but we knew that she would not stay. She has also entered the washing machine now."

When asked for clarity over the statement Moily said, "What I said was completely on the basis of what BJP had said in the past. The BJP would send ED and other agencies even to Himantha Biswas's house and once he joined the party he was given a clean chit and there are many leaders like him."

On being the whistleblower in Delhi liquor scam and now becoming a supporter of Kejriwal, he said, "There are rules for everything but arresting a sitting chief minister during elections is wrong as it gives the wrong message. Countries like France, Germany, UK and many countries have condemned this act. They have said that arresting a leader during elections sends wrong signals about democracy."