Yashwant Sinha Highlights: Not Asking For Arun Jaitley's Resignation

Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha stung his party yesterday with an opinion piece titled "I Need To Speak Up Now" in which he demolished Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and his handling of the economy, which fell to a three-year-low of 5.7 per cent in the last quarter. The government rejected his assessment. "Under the decisive leadership of PM Modi, India has become the world's fastest-growing economy for three years in a row," said union minister Piyush Goyal.

Here are the highlights of his interview with NDTV:

• I had decided in 2014 that i will not contest the Lok Sabha elections. I had opted out of electoral politics.
• Have been trying to lead a quiet life.
• But have held view that I could not keep silent when issues of national interest arose.
• That's why I spoke about Jammu and Kashmir issue as well.
• When economic data came, I felt very, very concerned.
• Growth rate going down for last 6 quarters. Growth rate at lowest in three years.
• Brought to notice in national interest so that government can take corrective steps.
• I have seen Jayant Sinha's article. He's doing his dharma, I'm doing my dharma.
• Economy was already on downward swing before demonetisation. It was hardly the time for a disruption.
• Government was already working on GST. People knew GST would've been a disruptor. The sequencing was wrong.
• Whatever the merit in the long term, it has caused a lot of pain in short term.
• There is a denial. Decline is not technical, it is real and it is here to stay.
• There are members of party at various levels, MPs, MLAs.
• Have said things not moving in the right direction.
• But they are not allowed to raise these issues.
• They are afraid of not being re-nominated.
• The Buck Stops with the Finance Minister. The PM is a participant but decisions are prepared by Finance Minister in consultation with PM.
• Not asking for Mr Jaitley's resignation.
• Steps should be taken now to ensure economy is brought back on track.
• Stalled projects should be revived. NPAs of banks should attended to.
• Banks must be enabled to finance private sector investment.
• Need in economy is to raise demand for investment goods.
• A whole lot of new projects were started when we were in government. Those sectors in stress should be remedied.
• The question is of sequencing. Should demonetisation have done when it was?
• Sometimes what is good politically is not good economically.
• Demonetisation was an unmitigated economic disaster. Not going into its political ramifications.
• On charge of being frustrated and disgruntled, Mr Sinha says "This is the easiest and cheapest accusation to make about any one".
• I opted out of electoral process.
• If you are not an MP, you cannot be a minister. I deliberately chose this path.
• My being quiet in party politics does not mean I won't speak on national issues.
• When I was in Kashmir in December last year on my second visit, I felt it was right time to talk to PM.
• We are now in September, 10 months have passed, still waiting for that meeting.
• I had some suggestions that if followed, situation would've been better.
• I am saying this as a matter of fact without any bitterness.
• I have generally been keeping aloof from party activities.
• Nobody has asked me and I did not have the will.
• But technically I am still an active member of the party.
• Have not attended programs in the last 3 years.
• It is not a father and son issue. If Jayant Sinha has written what he has, its his own sweet will.
• If he has been asked, I would say it was a cheap trick to pit father against son. Haven't spoken to him today.