Jitin Prasada denied any wrongdoing by UPA functionaries in the AgustaWestland chopper deal.
Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh:
Attacking the Narendra Modi government on the AgustaWestland issue, former Union minister Jitin Prasada today said instead of taking proper action, the BJP is busy indulging in "character assassination" of Congress leaders.
"The NDA government is in power for two years with all the premier investigation agencies under its control. If there is any wrongdoing, it should have exposed and punished the errants. I am sorry that the Union government is just busy in making eloquent speeches and maligning Congress instead of taking proper action," the Congress leader said.
Mr Prasada denied any wrongdoing by UPA functionaries in the AgustaWestland chopper deal.
He accused the BJP-led NDA government of indulging in "character assassination" of senior Congress leaders and maligning the party's image on fictitious issues.
On NDA completing two years in power, he said, "During these two years, the NDA government has failed to fulfil its promises to the people. Whether they are national or local issues, no solid development work was visible on the ground."
"Yes, what it has done is repackaging and marketing those works initiated by the Congress-led UPA government," he said.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the free LPG connection to BPL families in Ballia amid great fanfare. However, the same scheme was implemented in 2010 during UPA regime in his Dhaurehra constituency."
He said the Congress did a lot but failed in "marketing its development works."
"Now, poll strategist Prashant Kishore has been engaged to fill this gap," he said.
On Uttar Pradesh elections, Mr Prasada said people, particularly the youth, have "great hope" from Congress as the BSP government of 2007, Samajwadi Party government of 2012 and the NDA government of 2014 had "badly disappointed" them.
"Congress is keen to inject fresh politics in Uttar Pradesh which is riddled with issues of caste, creed and religion since long with no focus on development," he said.
On whether Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would be the chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh elections, Mr Prasada said, "The question should be left to the discretion of the central party leadership and Priyanka Gandhi herself."
"The NDA government is in power for two years with all the premier investigation agencies under its control. If there is any wrongdoing, it should have exposed and punished the errants. I am sorry that the Union government is just busy in making eloquent speeches and maligning Congress instead of taking proper action," the Congress leader said.
Mr Prasada denied any wrongdoing by UPA functionaries in the AgustaWestland chopper deal.
He accused the BJP-led NDA government of indulging in "character assassination" of senior Congress leaders and maligning the party's image on fictitious issues.
On NDA completing two years in power, he said, "During these two years, the NDA government has failed to fulfil its promises to the people. Whether they are national or local issues, no solid development work was visible on the ground."
"Yes, what it has done is repackaging and marketing those works initiated by the Congress-led UPA government," he said.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the free LPG connection to BPL families in Ballia amid great fanfare. However, the same scheme was implemented in 2010 during UPA regime in his Dhaurehra constituency."
He said the Congress did a lot but failed in "marketing its development works."
"Now, poll strategist Prashant Kishore has been engaged to fill this gap," he said.
On Uttar Pradesh elections, Mr Prasada said people, particularly the youth, have "great hope" from Congress as the BSP government of 2007, Samajwadi Party government of 2012 and the NDA government of 2014 had "badly disappointed" them.
"Congress is keen to inject fresh politics in Uttar Pradesh which is riddled with issues of caste, creed and religion since long with no focus on development," he said.
On whether Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would be the chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh elections, Mr Prasada said, "The question should be left to the discretion of the central party leadership and Priyanka Gandhi herself."
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