Slamming the economic survey released on Friday, the Congress accused the government of “squeezing the poor” and threatened to launch a massive agitation if the government proposed to tax agriculture
Slamming the economic survey released on Friday, the Congress accused the government of “squeezing the poor” and threatened to launch a massive agitation if the government proposed to tax agriculture income.
“Worrying days ahead!,” commented AICC’s communication department chief Randeep Surjewala attacking the government on a number of counts.
“Rural India is paying a heavy price for the government’s mismanagement. Instead of addressing the concerns of the rural economy in distress, the survey seeks to tax the already burdened and debt ridden poor Indian farmer.
“Having failed in its attempt to usurp farmer’s land through the amended Land Acquisition ordinance, it seems that Mr Modi is seeking revenge against the farmers by taxing them,” he said.
Holding that the economic survey highlights the need to reform agriculture, Mr Surjewala said, “Infact, this is window dressing for this government’s aggressive neglect of the farm sector that shows up in the steep fall in numerous indicators from the survey.”
“Unfortunately, the story that emerges is of an underperforming economy, mismanaged by the BJP-led NDA government, but bailed out profiteering from falling crude oil prices,” he said while viewing that the Survery attempts to portray Indian economy as one of glowing promise and rosy health.
Mr Surjewala said while the Survey says that the government is relieved that it has met its fiscal deficit target of 3.9 per cent, what is actually revealed is that the government has missed its disinvestment targets by a mile.
“Then the questions arise: Is the fiscal deficit target met because of the constructive actions of the Modi government or is it a result of the oil price bonanza amounting to Rs 2,20,000 crores At whose cost has this deficit target been met Isn’t it fleecing the ordinary Indian ,” he asked.
“When the survey focuses on subsidy reform, it explicitly targets those that benefit the lower middle class and the poor. Yet, in contrast, the government continues to forego revenue for the benefit of crony capitalists, assuring us that it continues to be a suit boot ki sarkar,” he said.
