Amid Bickering Over Economy, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Gives a Thumb up to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s Work

The Modi government had come under severe criticism after GDP growth slumped to 5.7 per cent from 7.2 per cent last year in the first quarter of fiscal 2017-2018.

New Delhi, September 30: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is facing opposition heat over sagging GDP growth, got some respite from RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as he gave a thumbs up to the economic conditions prevailing in the country. Mohan Bhagwat said in his Dussehra speech that the Modi government was doing well in the fields of economy, social justice, and national security.

Mohan Bhagwat also lauded the government’s efforts to control corruption but stressed on the need for an integrated policy. He said that employment for every hand and remuneration for sustainable livelihood was also a major consideration. “The biggest contribution to our economy is made by the small, medium industries and self-employed business,” he added.

The Modi government had come under severe criticism after GDP growth slumped to 5.7 per cent from 7.2 per cent last year in the first quarter of fiscal 2017-2018. It was a sharp decline of 2.2 per cent points if compared with the first quarter of the financial year 2016-2017. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had predicted this fall, had said that demonetisation and the hasty implementation of GST were a double-whammy to the economy.

Voices of misgivings on the economy also emanated from the BJP quarters as former Union minister Yashwant Sinha severely criticised Arun Jaitley predicting that economy would have a hard fall. “I shall be failing in my national duty if I did not speak up even now against the mess the finance minister has made of the economy. I am also convinced that what I am going to say reflects the sentiments of a large number of people in the BJP and elsewhere who are not speaking up out of fear,” Sinha had written in an article.

Mohan Bhagwat also spoke at length about other issues affecting the country, including the Rohingya crisis. He said the Rohingya problem was heaped on the country. He said that Myanmar didn’t take them back because they were involved in separatist, criminal and violent activities.