Modi government lacks economic vision: Congress

RAIPUR: Coming down heavily on BJP-led NDA government, Congress leader Shobha Ojha today said Narendra Modi government lacks "economic vision", "fiscal direction" and "financial astuteness" to put India on the growth trajectory.

Describing it as "headline grabbing" government rather than an "investment catching" government, All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) president Shobha Ojha said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has disappointed industry by not fulfilling promises made to them before the Lok Sabha election.

"Growth in eight core industrial sectors like coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery, fertiliser, electricity, steel is down to 3.5 per cent in 2014-15 which is the lowest since 2009. Exports fell by over 11 per cent this year as compared to last year and industry is expressing serious concern," she said on the eve of the NDA government completing its first year in office.

"Several other failures on the economic front clearly shows tha the Modi government lacks 'economic vision', 'fiscal direction' and 'financial astuteness' to propel India on the growth trajectory," she said.

Narendra Modi had spoken to economists and industry watchers about a new "economic blueprint" for India but it all turned out to be mere "headline management," she said.

"An insatiable quest for personal propaganda, event management and attractive slogans has made the Modi government a 'headline catching' government rather than an investment catching government," she said.

She accused the Modi government of being unconcerned about youth, saying that the Centre had failed to create employment opportunities.

"Having come to power promising to create two crore jobs a year, the first year of the Modi government saw a creation of merely 17.5 lakh jobs," she said.