The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari on Monday alleged that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by the Congress had done little to solve the problems facing the farmers and the neglected sections of society in the country's interiors.
“The poor have become poorer in the country under the Congress regime while the leaders of the Congress have all become richer,” observed Mr. Gadkari, while addressing an impressive rally against corruption organised by the State unit of his party here.
The reports of several committees appointed by the Planning Commission spoke volumes about the poverty situation, he said.
Terming 2010 the ‘year of scandals,' Mr. Gadkari said the government did little to prevent farmers' suicides or provide jobs to the youth but plundered public money in the name of sports.
“Raja, Bajayega Congress Ka Baja' [Raja will ruin the Congress],” Mr. Gadkari said while speaking on the 2G spectrum scam, which was brought to light by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
He also came down heavily on the United Progressive Alliance government for its alleged failure to check price rise.
The fuel prices had increased seven times in the past six months, he said.
The BJP president also accused the Naveen Patnaik government of looting Orissa's land, minerals and other natural resources by indulging in corruption to show undue favours to companies such as Vedanta and Posco.
Accusing Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of betraying the BJP days before the 2009 general election, Mr. Gadkari said Mr. Patnaik was hand-in-glove with the Congress.
Expressing concern over lack of irrigation facilities for farmers in many regions across the country, Mr. Gadkari urged the people gathered at the rally to strengthen the BJP which was “committed to work for the development of the country.”
Assurance on irrigation
The BJP, if voted to power, would shift irrigation from the State list to the concurrent list to provide irrigation facilities to the farmers with the Central government bearing 50 per cent of expenditure, he added.
Mr. Gadkari said the BJP was set to emerge as an alternative to provide a better government in Orissa.
The people were “not keen to see the Congress in power again, or to allow Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal to continue its rule further.”
