“The UPA Government , in accordance with its Bharat Nirman (Building of India) slogan, has implemented various people-oriented schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA), Food Security Bill, Right to Education, Land Acquisition Bill, Right to Information, Pension Bill, Health Schemes, and many more such people beneficiary decisions,” said Rajiv Shukla, Minister for Parliamentary Affair while talking to media at a Meet the Press programme on Sunday (March 2).
Nagpur News: “Congress will achieve a landslide victory in coming Lok Sabha elections following a wave of groundbreaking decisions the UPA Government has taken in the last 10 years for the benefit of all class of people specifically for poor and middle class. The UPA Government , in accordance with its Bharat Nirman (Building of India) slogan, has implemented various people-oriented schemes likeMahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA), Food Security Bill, Right to Education, Land Acquisition Bill, Right to Information, Pension Bill, Health Schemes, and many more such people beneficiary decisions,” said Rajiv Shukla, Minister for Parliamentary Affair while talking to media at a Meet the Press programme on Sunday (March 2).
“The Congress Government at the Centre has fulfilled the aspirations of people across the country by various measures in the last 10 years. The last 10 years were most beneficial to majority of people. Congress achieved most of goals of Bharat Nirman slogan with an outstanding way. All the good steps will reflect in the coming Lok Sabha elections and Congress will emerge victorious and rule the nation again,” said Rajiv Shukla.
The Minister further said the Election Commission could announce the schedule of Lok Sabha elections within a week and the people of country including Nagpur are anxiously waiting for names of candidates the Congress will field in the polls. “Congress will soon announce the candidates,” he said.
“The Opposition has been crying hoarse over 2G and coal block scams because the Congress Government itself exposed the scams and accordingly took action. Had the Congress Government suppressed the scams like what the Vajpayee Government done the scams could have hit the monstrous proportions. Both the scams had raised their ugly heads during Vajpayee Government but it kept silence. Congress Government acted tough but the issue took the shape of corruption instead of smashing of the corruption by the Government,” a surprised Rajiv Shukla said.
Talking about Bharat Nirman slogan, Rajiv Shukla said, “BJP gave a slogan of Shining India without doing much for the people of India. On the other hand, Congress Government initiated a slew of people-oriented measures in true sense of Bharat Nirman slogan. The people will again elect Congress and subsequently prove all the opinion polls wrong. The latest sting operation has raised a question mark over the opinion polls. The Election Commission has also sought clarifications in this connection. As far as Assembly poll results in the States are concerned, the elections were fought on local issues. Ashok Gehlot Government had done very good but still Congress lost. The good works might not have reached the people. But the State results will not affect Congress prospects in Lok Sabha elections,” Shukla told media.
Replying to a question on hassles over alliance between Congress and RJD in Bihar, Rajiv Shukla said, “Till now a decision on alliance has been reached in Maharashtra only. Alliance in other states would be hammered out soon.”
Salman Khurshid’s remark on Narendra Modi is unfortunate. Congress party has already clarified its stand on the issue. Congress should not adopt style of BJP. Modi had commented in very bad taste against Rahul Gandhi and the people have taught a lesson to him. Congress has a tradition of taking all generations of people along with it. The same policy is being carried out this time also, the Minister said.
Answering a question on separate Vidarbha issue, Shukla said, “There is no talk in Congress about Vidarbha statehood. Telangana was on the agenda and we have created Telangana. The Congress President Sonia Gandhi herself was worried over Simandhra. But the issue has been settled,” Shukla said.
On the attacks on media despite several journalists being members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Shukla took a dig. “If journalists wish to play politics, then they should come out in open rather playing politics by ambush.”
Commenting on former Army Chief V K Singh joining BJP, Shukla said “Several questions are being raised now-a-days on bureaucrats jumping into politics. There should be ‘Cooling Period’ for bureaucrats to join politics so that justice could be meted out to politics.”
“The next IPL could be held in UAE, South Africa, Bangladesh. The March 5 meeting of Governing Council will decide the venue. A thought is being given that half of the matches should be held in India, Shukla said.
The Meet the Press programme was also attended by Nagpur MP Vilas Muttemwar, former Guardian Minister Satish Chaturvedi and others.
