War-like situation has been created in J&K to divert attention: Anand Sharma

What are your views on the three years of the Modi government?

This government has completed more than half its term. They are celebrating their third anniversary with MODI fest. A publicity blitzkrieg has been launched. They are spending Rs 1,500 crore from the central exchequer, hundreds of crores from PSUs and hefty sums from state government coffers. This is the time and season  to hold the Modi government accountable on what they had promised and what they have delivered. They have put forth a false picture of their achievements.

What are your reservations against the way this government is functioning?

Over-centralisation and the personality-centric attitude of this government is injurious to democracy. Their ministers are lame ducks and those who raise questions are put in the Marg Darshak Mandal. Central agencies are misused to fix opponents. On internal security, the government has utterly failed. So far, we have lost 538 jawans of the Army and paramilitary forces over the last three years and over 200 youth in Kashmir. We have only seen videos, which they release ever so often to divert the attention of the public. A war-like situation has been created to divert attention. Since Independence, the situation in Kashmir has never been this bad. If questions are asked, they label people anti-national.  We have serious concerns about the falsification of facts and the government’s attitude of insulting political opponents who question them.

Despite demonetization, there has not been a major fall in GDP figures, as was expected...

In 2016-17, the GDP figures stand at 6.6 per cent. This measurement has been reached after changing scales and formula. But as per old measurement scales, it is just 4.6 per cent. There is no economic growth. My challenge to the PM and Finance Minister is to list the last 10 years of GDP figures and put out figures measured under both  the old and new formulas. Three years ago, the investment rate was 34.8 per cent and has now decreased to 26.9 per cent. Despite Jan Dhan and other schemes to invite people to put their money in banks, non-agriculture credit off-take is falling continuously. It is in negative 1.5 per cent, the lowest in the last 63 years.

When it comes to the labour market, you may remember, the PM had promised 2 crore jobs every year. But the truth is that in the last two years, the number of people employed is not more than 1.5 lakh. I challenge the government on this count as well.

They must come out with figures from every district of people they have employed and imparted skills to.