‘Decisiveness in face of obstructionism’

Addressing a nearly 90 minute long press conference at National Media Centre in the capital, Jaitley said the first year of “the government was a directional year where every department worked overtime to put the country on the fast pace of growth and development and change the general sense of gloom before the government took over into optimism.” He said only those who are unhappy with this fast pace have become its critics.

“The country is not ready to accept <g data-gr-id="44">slow</g> pace of decisions. There is absolute clarity with regard to <g data-gr-id="43">direction</g> in which the government wants to move. The direction is towards growth and development.” He asserted that one of the major achievements had been that “this government has been to give a corruption-free administration to this country.” He added, “The common man has been freed from political corruption. We have done it in one year.”

Jaitley also expressed the government’s commitment to GST and the land acquisition bill, besides promising more funds for rural development and infrastructure. The minister accused the Congress, which has opposed the land bill, of obstructing India’s journey to 10 per cent growth by positioning itself against government’s pro-growth and developmental initiatives and asked the principal opposition party to reconsider its position. “No political party has a right to say I will not allow it to be passed. They have a right to vote against it. And when a political party says I will vote against it, the numbers will eventually decide whether it will be passed or not. And I think the numbers are very clear,” he said.

Jaitley also countered criticism of prime minister Narendra Modi’s <g data-gr-id="38">foreign foreign</g> trips - 18 countries in the past year. “The number of foreign trips the PM made, he went to 18 countries and he had talks with several countries, this has helped in leaving India’s mark on these countries,” he said.

When questioned about Congress vice-president’s Rahul Gandhi’s attacks on Modi’s foreign trips, Jaitley slammed Gandhi saying, “Going out on a 55-day vacation is a foreign journey and representing the country abroad, going on a state visit, is a different kind of programme.” Hinting at the support of regional parties for the passage of crucial bills in Parliament, he said central government’s attitude towards states in “empowering and enriching” them has made a clear political impact.