NEW DELHI: Till a year-ago the Congress-led UPA government was accused of policy paralysis, now in the opposition, the party accused the BJP-led government of similar charge.
As the NDA government completes one year, and launches itself into nationwide celebrations, the Congress is countering it was charges of “failures.”
Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma on Sunday said a number of top posts like Lokpal, CVC, CIC and DRDO and in a dozen scientific institutions, were lying vacant for long as no decision was being taken.
"If it is true the government is very decisive, then what is the reason for not appointing the chiefs of these important bodies," Sharma said. He said that the delay in decision-making was due to the fact that there was "centralized decision-making now" in the government which has led to "paralysis in decision-making".
Other top posts vacant included chiefs of ICAR, CSIR, ICMR, CDRI, TIFR, SN Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics as also Vice Chancellors of 12 central universities. The appointment of 76 joint secretaries has also been pending.
"The PM has made boastful claims and he has confused many within the country and even misled people globally," Sharma charged.
The Congress that has been hunting for issues to hit out at the government also attacked the NDA government over the Rafale deal.
Sharma alleged that as per the earlier arrangement, state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was to manufacture 108 jets through transfer of technology from the French company.
"Then why was HAL kept out of the government-to-government agreement despite the fact that the state-owned company has assembly lines in view of its old collaboration with France on the Mirage deal?" Sharma asked at an AICC briefing.
This was the second day running on which Congress raised questions over the fighter jet deal. Former UPA Defence Minister AK Antony had yesterday raised several questions over the deal as he wondered whether the Finance Ministry and Defence Acquisition Council were taken on board while clinching the agreement with France.