BHUBANESWAR: The Congress on Wednesday demanded that the Centre release a white paper on the current state of the country’s economy.
Addressing a media conference here, former Finance minister Panchanan Kanungo said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent advice to citizens on cutting expenditure has proved that the country’s economy is collapsing. The looming danger that many Indian and foreign economists feared has happened, he added.
The former Finance minister contended that in 2014 during the UPA government, India’s total debt was Rs 55 lakh crore. By 2026 it has reached Rs 197 lakh crore, he said and added that in the last 10 years, the Modi government has brought the Indian economy to a paralysed state.
Kanungo targeted the use of helicopter by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi even for 20 kilometre trips and lavish lifestyle of the ministers. Stating that hundreds of vehicles are used in every party meeting, the former minister said the chief minister and ministers should set an example first, then people will follow the expenditure cut advice.
“Both engines of the double-engine government should come clean. Present the real financial condition of the country before the people,” he added.