Venkaiah Naidu says Must swallow ‘bitter medicine’ for economy

[sherin616]

HYDERABAD: Attacking the previous government, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said the hike in rail fares was "thrust upon" by the UPA, but it was a "bitter medicine" that had to be swallowed in the interest of sound health of the economy.

"The hike in fares is thrust upon us by UPA government. It is the result of the misplaced populism of the UPA's 10-year misrule. The railways are bleeding. Former railway minister (Mallikarjuna) Kharge had sought and received approval of the PM (for hike) ahead of interim budget," Naidu told reporters here.

Describing the rail fare hike as a "bitter medicine", the Union urban development and parliamentary affairs minister said the medicine had to be swallowed in the interest of sound health of the economy.

"The railway board has moved now to give effect to what the railway minister and then Prime Minister had concurred. It is a bitter medicine which was necessitated to set right the faltering finances of the railways that were aggravated by UPA's mismanagement of the economy," he said.

Naidu explained the sequence of events relating to rail fare hike beginning with a proposal being made on February six this year. Photocopies of an official circular dated May 16 regarding revision of passenger fares were distributed to the media.

Noting that only 4,000 out of 12,000 trains announced by successive railway ministers during the last 10 years have been introduced, he said the present railway projects need Rs five lakh crores for implementation.

Alleging that the UPA has "derailed the economy", the Union minister said tough decisions have to be taken to put the economy back on track.

Asserting that the Narendra Modi government has the moral courage to take concrete decisions, Naidu expressed hope that the people would understand the facts.

Referring to the row over using Hindi on social media, he said the government circular to the effect was issued on March 10 this year when UPA was in power.

"Chidambaramji forgets this and says government should be sensitive to the regional feelings. Others also criticize. The circular talks about promoting Hindi in 'A' category (Hindi-speaking) states. This government only sent it down the line. Nobody said do it in Tamil Nadu. What is objectionable in this?" he said.

Naidu also read out the concerned circular. The Union minister said a two-day workshop would be conducted for the newly-elected MPs of BJP on June 28 and 29 at Surajkund in Haryana on parliamentary affairs, the challenges before the nation and BJP's policies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate the workshop and veteran BJP leader LK Advani would give the valedictory address. Senior leaders like Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and others would address.

Replying to a query on political appointees, Naidu said, "Congress does not have the right to criticise now because Manmohan Singh government had argued before courts that political appointments should go with politics."

The Times of India

 

[Tshering22]

I agree with him.

Sometimes short term losses can result in long term gains.

Give the new government time. For those crying and complaining for 'achhe din', it is almost like they thought Modi will come and wave his magic want and India would become Japan in 7 days.

Seriously.

 

[sherin616]

and its my 100th like thanku

it will take to heal the damage done by upa and its show nda has back born it should have done in last 2 or three years

 

[my2cents]

No pain No gain.