Top News
How much does he know, Congress hits back at Jaitley
New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) Hitting back at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for his article “How much does he know” that targeted Congress President Rahul Gandhi, the party on Wednesday called him a minister without portfolio and threw back the same question at him – “how much does he know?”
Earlier in the day, in his blog appearing in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s website, Jaitley accused Gandhi of making false remarks at a farmers’ rally in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and said the Narendra Modi government had not waived a single rupee due from any industrialist.
Quoting a reply given by the Finance Ministry in Parliament that the Modi government had written off loans worth Rs 2.41 lakh crore of some top industrialists, the party also asked how “empty worded blogs” could be an answer to “betrayal of farmers” by the government.
In his blog, Jaitley asked if Gandhi was being inadequately briefed or he was being a little too liberal with his facts.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said: “How much does Shri Arun Jaitley know? Has ‘arrogance of power’ reached such a zenith where the BJP is blind to farmer distress.”
“Over 130 farmers organisations are protesting across India through an unprecedented ‘Gaon Bandh’ agitation. Rural distress, agricultural indebtedness, farmer suicides and distress sale of crops much below MSP is the new order in Modi government,” he said in a statement.
Surjewala said the Congress President’s address at the farmers’ rally in Mandsaur had shaken the foundations of the “anti-farmer BJP”.
“Arun Jaitley, the Union Minister without portfolio, with zero knowledge of agriculture is giving ‘GYAN’ to the nation again today, with his usual travesty of facts and trivialisation of farmers’ issues,” he said.
Reminding him of the facts presented by his own government, Surjewala said: “Modi government wrote off loans of a handful of crony friends worth Rs 2.41 lakh crore as per reply given to Parliament by the Finance Ministry on April 3, 2018.
“Contrary to Jaitley’s lies, Modi government is actually the ‘NPA Sarkar’. Gross NPAs went up from Rs 2,51,054 crore in March 2014 to Rs 8,31,141 crore in December 2017 (an increase of a whopping 230 per cent during the Modi government), as per the reply given to Parliament by Finance Ministry on April 6.”
The leader said: “Fleece the banks and fly away to foreign lands is the ‘facility for fraudsters’ under Modi government’s watch. Perhaps Arun Jaitley forgets the recent ‘bank loot scams’ worth over Rs 61,036 crore.”
“Make in India has become an empty slogan. BJP and its minister without portfolio forget that industrial growth has declined from 7.4 per cent in 2016 to 4.45 per cent in 2018.
“GFCF i.e an indicator of investment, has fallen from 31.34 per cent to 28.49 per cent. India’s exports have fallen from Rs 19.05 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs 10.73 lakh crore in 2017-18. Between 2014-2018, India’s revenue from export is zero,” Surjewala pointed out.
Surjewala also reminded Jaitley of a famous quote by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru that says “facts are facts, and will not disappear on account of your likes”.
–IANS
sid/nir
Top News
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.