Govt incapable of halting economic slowdown: PC

December 05, 2019 12:56

Congress leader P Chidambaram holds his first press conference after he was released from jail yesterday. The conference, in keeping with the Supreme Court order is not about the case, but the state of the economy. Highlights:

"As I stepped out & breathed the air of freedom at 8 pm last night, my first thought and prayers were for the 75 lakh people of the Kashmir Valley who have been denied their basic freedoms since August 4, 2019.

"I am particularly concerned about the political leaders who have been detained without charges. Freedom is indivisible, if we must preserve our freedom, we must fight for their freedom. I intend to visit Jammu & Kashmir if the government allows me to.

"My record as minister and my conscience are absolutely clear. Officers who have worked with me, business persons who have interacted with me and journalists who have observed me know that very well.

"We will be lucky to end the year if growth touches 5%. Please remember Dr Arvind Subramanians caution that 5% under this government, because of suspect methodology, is not really 5% but less by about 1.5%.

"Economy can be brought out of slowdown, but this government is incapable of doing that. The government is clueless on economy; it is stubborn, mulish in defending catastrophic mistakes like demonetisation, flawed GST.

"The PM has been unusually silent on economy, has left it to his ministers to indulge in bluff and bluster. Congress, some other parties better equipped to pull economy out of slowdown, but we have to wait for better times. The economic slowdown is a man-made catastrophe and the people responsible should be brought to task."

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

IPL PIX: Clinical KKR outclass MI; inch closer to play-offs!

Kolkata Knight Riders outclassed Mumbai Indians by 24 runs in the IPL 2024 match on Friday.

Canadian police arrest 3 suspects in Nijjar murder case: Media report

Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of Sikh activist Nijjar, CTV News quoted a senior government source as saying.

Rohith Vemula not a Dalit, he ended life because....: Police closure report

The Cyberabad police that investigated the case informed the court that Rohith Vemula did not belong to Scheduled Caste and that he was aware of it.

Kin seek CBI probe into death of Salman home shooting accused

He had allegedly hanged himself with a bed sheet in the toilet of the lock-up, as per the police.

7 Adani group firms have received Sebi show cause notices

Seven out of the 10 listed firms of Adani group have received show cause notices from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for alleged violation of related party transactions and non-compliance with listing regulations, the...