Without openly suggesting that the Left desist from supporting Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Presidential poll, noted economist and Left intellectual Ashok Mitra said here on Wednesday that it was Mr. Mukherjee who was responsible for the economic crisis in the country.
“The Congress is requesting everybody to support Mr. Mukherjee. But the economic and financial policies of Mr. Mukherjee and the Congress-led government at the Centre is inflicting heavy burdens on the common man. They have failed to control inflation and decreasing economic growth despite several assurances by Mr. Mukherjee,” Mr. Mitra said at a seminar organised to commemorate the 35 anniversary of the setting up of the first Left Front government in the State.
Mr. Mitra was among the five Ministers who took the oath of office on June 21, 1977.
The former Finance Minister of the State also slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for talking about “ethics” in the course of the Presidential poll.
“She has no right to talk”
“Ms. Banerjee is talking about ethics on Facebook. She is talking about unethical practices in the Presidential election. But she has no right to talk about it as she herself on numerous occasions has flip-flopped on her statements,” Mr. Mitra said.
Keywords: economic crisis, Indian economy, Pranab Mukherjee, Ashok Mitra
