Condemning the anti-people economic and development policies of the Narnedra Modi-led Union Government, Congress cadre staged a demonstration at Thuckalay near here on Tuesday.
Addressing the protesters, All India Congress Committee secretary Sanjay Dutt said the demonetisation of high-value currency notes and the callously implemented Goods and Service Tax were a death knell for several lakhs of micro, small and marginal industries. Consequently, over 30 lakh employees working in these units had lost their jobs even as unprecedented inflation was making the common man’s daily life miserable.
The Gross Domestic Product of the country had come down below 5% and the rupee value against US dollar had fallen. Even though crude oil price in the international market was nosediving, the Centre was revising the fuel price upwardly, which had adverse impact on the spiralling prices of essential commodities. As the buying capacity of common man had come down drastically and reached the alarming level, the GST revenue had come down. So, the Centre could not find adequate funds for development and welfare schemes.
“While the pro-corporate policies of the Modi-led BJP Government is enriching a few further, all other sectors and industries are being destroyed by this government. Even getting loans by mortgaging jewels in public sector banks has become impossible as these banks’ future is also bleak,” Mr. Sanjay Dutt said.
Kanniyakumari MP. Vasanthakumar said Mr. Modi, who had come to power with the promise of creating 2 crore new jobs every year, had destroyed several lakhs of industries across the country through his unrealistic and anti-industrial policies. Breadwinners of 30 lakh families across the country had lost their jobs and these families were on the streets now.
“Those who were giving employment to 10 or 15 people through their micro and small scale industries have become jobless labourers. Without taking any damage control measures, the Prime Minister is diverting the people’s attention with his lies and foreign trips,” he said.
Party MLAs Rajesh Kumar and J.G. Prince, one of the working presidents of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee Mayura S. Jayakumar and others spoke.
