New Delhi: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh defended on Saturday a string of economic reforms unveiled by his government, despite protests over higher fuel prices and new foreign investment rules.
Dr Singh, speaking to ministers and advisers in New Delhi, said the reforms were needed to revive flagging economic growth, improve the investment climate and boost public finances.
“The recent increase in diesel prices is an important step in the right direction,” he said, following a decision on Thursday to hike the heavily subsidised price of the fuel by 12%.
Meanwhile, BJP-led NDA will hold a nationwide protest on September 20 protesting against the central government’s decision to hike diesel price and allow FDI in multi-brand retail.
Announcing the alliance’s decision here, BJP leader LK Advani said “NDA on Saturday decided to hold a nation-wide strike on 20th of this month. I am sure that the suffocation felt by the people for a long time is about to come to an end.”
Addressing the press with Sushma Swaraj and other senior leaders of the coalition, he said “it would be prudent and wise for the government itself to decide that they do not wait till 2014 for the people to give their opinion about the UPA government. Let them call for an early election. Let the people make a decision.”
Stating that the government should be allowed to rethink over all its acts, the BJP leader said “if they are able to do that on their own by giving resignation– the Lok Sabha elections are also due shortly — I think it will be fine.”
He said no political party’s consent was taken by the government before making these announcements.
“They have not consulted any political party and chief minister and have announced this suddenly. This is something which the country is not going to take lying down,” Advani said.
He said NDA leaders have talked “informally” to other political parties and “I think the 20th September strike will be spontaneous and successful”.
“This is the betrayal of Parliament, people and thousands of traders in the country,” Advani alleged.
Traders body to support
Meanwhile, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has called for a nation-wide bandh on September 20, to protest against government’s decision to operationalise 51 per cent foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail.