Narendra Modi government appeasing crony capitalism: Congress

NAGPUR: As part of its attack on the Narendra Modi government which is nearing completion of one year in power, Congress today charged the Centre with appeasing "crony capitalists and trading partners" and alleged it of slashing social sector spending by a whopping Rs 1,75,122 crore.

"Narendra Modi's 'suit-boot ki sarkar', whose only policy is Corporate Ka Saath--Khud Ka Vikas (with corporate, development of oneself) is mercilessly demolishing the edifice of India's foundational values of inclusive and equitable development in its insatiable quest to appease a few crony capitalists and trading partners," AICC spokesman P L Punia said in a press conference here today.

"Modi government has slashed social sector spending by Rs 1,75,122 crore in one year alone -- by way of Rs 66,222 crore cut in grants on social sector schemes, Rs 5,900 crore cut by closing down backward regions grant fund and Rs 1,03,000 crore cut by not implementing the food security programme aimed at 67 per cent of the population," he alleged.

These cuts were also implemented in areas such as Women and Child Development, Agriculture, Irrigation, Panchayati Raj, Education, Health, Housing, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Tribals, he added.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna has witnessed a reduction of funds to the tune of Rs 7,426.50 crore, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development by Rs 685 crore and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichai Yojna saw a cut of Rs 8,156.22 crore apart from Rs 1,632.50 crore slash in National Livelihood Mission, Punia said.

Under the BJP-led government in Centre, the agriculture growth has gone down from 4.7 per cent in 2013-14 to 1.1 per cent in 2014-15, the Congress leader said quoting the Economic Survey report 2015.

The Congress leader alleged that the Centre has not released Rs 6,000 to the state for disbursement under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Former Congress MP Vilas Muttemwar and former Minister Satish Chaturvedi were also present on the occasion.