Congress shielding corrupt ministers involved in scams: Venkaiah Naidu

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Suresh Vamanjoor)

January 31, 2014

Mangalore, Jan 31: Criticising the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre for failing to act on several promises during its tenure, MP and former BJP national president M Venkaiah Naidu said that the Congress was afraid to project the candidature of Rahul Gandhi as they feared rejection in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing mediapersons at a press conference in the city on Friday, he said that Congress was certain of losing the elections and was resorting to cheap gimmicks on the eve of elections. Petroleum minister Veerappa Moily raised the cap on subsidised gas cylinders from nine to 12 within two weeks of declaring that it was not possible. The Congress has to answer why the cap was lowered in the first place, he said, adding that people would not believe such gimmicks.

He said that the real credit of the LPG cylinder hike went to Narendra Modi because of whose fears, the Congress raised the cap.

Accusing the Congress of failing to fulfill several of its promises during its ten-year rule, he said that the party was making efforts to shield the corrupt ministers in scams such as coal allocation scam, 2G spectrum scam and Commonwealth Games scam, instead of taking action against them. The Central government also failed in keeping promises of bringing women's reservation bill, Telangana bill and black money stashed in foreign banks. This is 'vishwas ghat' (breach of trust) with the people, he said.

“Now, the Centre is promising funds and central universities for education of minorities. If they are so committed to the cause of minority welfare, why have they not implemented schemes in the last ten years,” he said.

He said that the BJP was likely to get majority on its own after the elections, but would form a coalition government.

Asked about the Aam Aadmi Party being a deterrent to the BJP in the elections, Mr Naidu said that AAP was getting exposed day after day. There is no clarity on the stand of AAP in many issues. While the party has committed a historic blunder of joining hands with the Congress, this alignment is not going well with people, he said.

He said that the list of candidates for Lok Sabha elections would be released in the second week of February.

As preparation for the elections, the BJP will organise Lok Sabha conventions, intellectual conventions as well as social media campaigns, he added.

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PM Modi vows to strengthen India-Maldives ties, inks currency swap deal with President Muizzu

News Network

October 7,2024

New Delhi: Seeking to strengthen bilateral ties, India and the Maldives on Monday inked a currency swap agreement to the tune of $400 million, a move that would help the archipelago nation overcome foreign exchange reserve issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu also launched Rupay card in the Maldives, inaugurated the new runway at the Hanimadhoo International airport and agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations that had hit a rocky patch last year.

Muizzu, who is on a four-day state visit, held talks with Prime Minister Modi at the Hyderabad House here.

After the talks, India also handed over 700 social housing units to the Maldives built under the EXIM Bank’s buyer’s credit facilities.

"Today, we have inaugurated the redeveloped Hanimaadhoo Airport. Now, the Greater Male Connectivity Project will also be expedited. We will also support the development of a new commercial port in Thilafushi," Modi told reporters here with Muizzu by his side.

Modi said India and Maldives have decided to initiate discussion on the Free Trade Agreement to further strengthen economic ties.

The prime minister described Maldives as a "close friend" which had an important position in India's neighbourhood policy and SAGAR vision.

"India has always fulfilled the responsibilities of a neighbour. Today, we have taken up the vision of a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership to give our mutual cooperation a strategic direction," Modi said.

Earlier, Muizzu was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Droupadi Murmu. Prime Minister Modi was also present on the occasion.

Muizzu was given a tri-services guard of honour before he drove down the Rajghat to offer his respects at the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office in November.

Muizzu won the presidential election last year on the 'India out' campaign and asked New Delhi to withdraw its military personnel posted in the archipelago nation by May this year.

The bilateral ties also hit a rocky patch when Maldivian ministers were critical of Modi. However, Muizzu has since toned down his anti-India stance and even sacked ministers who were critical of the Indian prime minister.

As the Maldives was grappling with a serious economic downturn, India has decided to extend vital budgetary support to the Maldives government with the rollover of a $50 million Treasury Bill for another year.

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