Manufacturing sector growth rate during BJP rule zero: Mani Shankar Aiyar

KOLKATA: Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar today accused the BJP regime of bringing down the growth rate in the country's manufacturing sector to a zero.

In a counter to the BJP's charge that the Congress is responsible for the washout of monsoon session of Parliament, Aiyar said development doesn't take place in Parliament, but in factories.

"Development doesn't take place in Parliament, it takes place in factories, the manufacturing has been zero (in last 15 months)," Aiyar said.

"The last 15 months of Modi government has been very poor and disappointing, which is why support for it is dwindling by every day," Aiyar told PTI.

Aiyar, who was in the city to address a programme of Pradesh Congress Committee's minority cell, during his speech accused the BJP government of trying to divide the nation.

"Modiji, keeps saying "Sabka Sath Sabka Bikas", but he is neither working for the development, nor is trying to take along everybody," he said.

"The 10 years of UPA regime on the other hand had taken 14 crore people off the poverty line, as we know what needs to be done for the development. We have always worked for the entire country and all communities including the minorities," Aiyar said.

He also took pride in the fact that it was the UPA government which had created a separate ministry for the minorities.