LUCKNOW: Launching a scathing attack on Congress party, Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Friday in Lucknow that those who adopted autocratic way of governance by clamping emergency and muzzled the opposing voices of both political rivals and media, were surprisingly questioning freedom of expression today.
"The party that introduced autocracy, imposed emergency and denied people their fundamental rights is now questioning us on freedom of expression,” said the defence minister in an expression of astonishment.
The defence minister also accused the Congress party of promoting dynasty politics in the country. She claimed that the popularity graph of the saffron party was soaring through the motto of 'Sabka Saath, Sabaka Vikas'.
“From two MPs in Lok Sabha at one point of time we now have governments in 21 states by following 'sabka saath sabka vikas' mantra of governance,” she maintained while interacting with media persons in state capital. The defence minister was here to take part in 38th foundation day celebrations of ruling BJP.
Referring to the development of the state, the defence minister expressed happiness over Yogi governance. She claimed that the proposed defence corridor in Bundelkhand region was well on track and the officials of her ministry were in constant touch with local industry.
She said the officials were confabulating with the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) for upgrading their technical skills and offering them expert advice and consultations for prospective manufacturing.
The Corridor was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inaugural day of the 2-day UP Investors Summit 2018 in Lucknow on 21 February.
The defence minister claimed that the corridor was proposed for Bundelkahnd as it was one of the most backward regions of the state and the corridor would help generate scores of employment opportunities for the local youth. “It will do good not only to Bundelkhand but would also benefit other districts like Agra, Aligarh, Kanpur, and Chitrakoot.
Meanwhile, UP CM hoped that the corridor would boost state’s industrialisation. He claimed that UP had immense investment potential which needed to be tapped in right earnest.