Taking serious exception to Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi ridiculing the Narendra Modi Government as “suit-boot” government, Union IT and Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a counter-attack on the first anniversary of the Government by remarking that “we are neither a suit-boot government nor suitcase government”.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr. Prasad maintained that, “We are not here to satisfy those rejected and dejected by people. We have to satisfy people of India and they are satisfied with our performance”.
Taking exception to Mr. Gandhi staying away from the Lok Sabha session for a month, he said, “It is our primary responsibility to be present in the Lok Sabha when it is in session. But the top leader (Mr. Gandhi) of the Congress party whom his followers want to be party president stays away from the session for a month for his introspection session, and says we are a suit-boot government soon after his return.”
He described the one-year governance of Narendra Modi Government as a journey from “gloom to growth and despair to hope”, while accusing the UPA of indulging in scams that not only resulted in losses, but also affected the development.
Digital India, Make in India and Skill India formed the triangle on which the Narendra Modi Government wanted to rebuild the country, he said. “The entire Cabinet and the Party is working hard and we are very proud,” he remarked,
Referring to his own Ministry, he said the Centre wanted to increase the internet penetration from the present 30 crore population to 50 crore in the next two years. Also, 600 telephone exchanges in the country were set to be digitised for making them “next-generation ready”.