Congress manifesto 'empty slogans' says Arun Jaitley

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Amritsar Lok Sabha candidate Arun Jaitley today termed the Congress Manifesto, released yesterday as `empty slogans'. He said there is no realism in the promises made ahead of the elections in the manifesto.

Talking to media persons, he said that there were many political parties willing to shake hands with the BJP, and they were cautiously taking steps to join hands with them.

Jaitley also took a dig at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi who had said that BJP's "Balloon will burst".

"Is it an astrological perception that Mr. Rahul has that the balloon will burst. There are clear indications of the popularity of the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and that of BJP. The wave is in favour of our party, and against the Congress but Rahul Gandhi does not want to see it," he said.

On the opinion poll he said that he had repeatedly commented that opinion polls may not be accurate but the ones conducted by credible organizations indicate the broad direction of the public opinion.

``What is to be concluded from the broad direction indicated by the Opinion Polls published so far is that the Congress is nose diving southwards to a two digit figure and the BJP can hope to reach its highest tally in post-Independence history," he said.

He also said that in the recent past the institution of political rallies has revived. "Can Rahul compare the size of Modi rallies with his own? Can he compare the enthusiasm of candidates wanting to fight on a BJP ticket and the reluctance of many to fight on a Congress ticket?" he asked.

He said Rahul has not seen the reality in the fact that the DMK, TRS, LJP, TMC, PMK and MDMK have all deserted the Congress. He believes that his allies are intact. The largest representation that the UPA got in 2004 and 2009 was from Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. This time in these two States the Congress figure may nose dive, he said.

On the rising Sensex he said the investors in the world have deposed faith in the upcoming Modi sarkar, so they have shown the confidence that investing in India is profitable so the sensex has seen the steep rise.

He said the UPA government can only be credited with inheriting an 8.5 percent GDP growth rate and on the eve of its departure they have brought down the growth rate to 4.5 percent. The problem with those who imagine themselves to be the King is that they see success in their failure and a silver-lining in each disaster.

He also said they after forming the government will bring home the Balck monesy stacked in the foreign banks. On Captain he said he was seeing he arrogant comments each day from his opponent but he went through a charge-sheet filed by the Vigilance Bureau in relation to a 2005 project in the city of Ludhiana where all rules were flouted by the then government.

The Chief Minister had directed the removal of the Chairman of the Improvement Trust so that a more pliable gentleman could be appointed. Bidding documents were prepared without the necessary approvals.

Work was undertaken flouting the rules. The bids were rigged in order to favour a particular bidder. Construction was allowed despite the authorities knowing that the agreement signed with the bidder was illegal and the construction was based on an unapproved design. Official position was abused in order to show benefits to a private party.

Worst still the charge-sheet mentions that payments were made by the beneficiary to the Chief Minister and his family members and the money trail led them to a particular middleman with whom the monies were parked. The charge-sheet does not make out a reading which may flatter anyone.