Congress ridicules Modi's poll manifesto, claims credit for welfare of middle class
New Delhi, Dec 3 (ANI)
Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Monday denied the claim in the Bharatiya Janata Party's poll manifesto announced by Narendra Modi, and said that the middle class in the country has prospered only because of the policies put in place by the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre.
"I think it's a little bizarre. It's like someone saying that I created the Internet. If the middle class in this country has prospered, it is because of the policies, which have been put in place by the UPA Government. It is because of the sustained eight percent growth, which this country has witnessed from 2004 to 2012. And we have not done anyone a favour," said Tewari.
"We are committed to the growth of this country, we are committed to the development of this country," he added, while emphasizing the ruling government's commitment for the welfare of the common man of the country.
Modi, who released the BJP's manifesto for the state assembly elections in Ahmedabad, earlier in the day said that it is a blueprint for development of all sections of the society.
The BJP's manifesto in poll-bound Gujarat promises to address the problems of urban and rural housing, water, and irrigation apart from resolving farmers' issues.
In its manifesto, the BJP has promised greater job opportunities for over 30 lakh youth of the state if it is voted back to power.
It also promises to set up new speciality hospitals in Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and North Gujarat.
The party also promised to double the electricity output and assured farmers of cheaper loans. The manifesto said that in the next five years 16 lakh hectares of land would be irrigated.
The manifesto also talks about women empowerment, e-governance, urban and rural development, IT, new energy sources, development in adivasi-dominated areas, Dalit and neglected sections, wetland development, wind energy, promotion of ayurveda medicine, among other things.
Top BJP leaders, including Arun Jaitley shared stage with Modi, who is looking at a third consecutive term at the helm in Gujarat, during the unveiling of manifesto.