AMN / Mumbai
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday expressed deep concern over “economic slowdown” and unemployment scenario in the country under the Narendra Modi regime, saying the current situation of the country was a result of taking steps like demonetisation and GST roll-out without adequate preparedness.
He said that due to “all-round failures” like rising unemployment, inflation and firms shutting down, the public sentiment has gone against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre.
“Unemployment is increasing all over the country, agriculture sector is distressed and farmers are killing themselves, there is high inflation, the financial sector has failed and the poor sections are very upset. The public mood is against the government and we must prepare for elections,” Pawar told mediapersons.
He said that with 67 textile companies shutting down rendering 17,600 people jobless, Larsen & Toubro, Infosys and Suzlon terminating thousands of services, Mahindra & Mahindra removing 17,000 employees, the coming days are going to be difficult for the country.
“The investment climate in the country is not good today and hence, there are no fresh investments. The Make in India slogan seemed very attractive initially, but its hollowness has begun to show now,” he said at a press conference.
He also said the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project was “impractical” adding that technology projects should be more feasible.
“Also, I think a bullet train is required between Mumbai and Delhi or Delhi and Kolkata or Mumbai and Chennai. A bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is impractical. Maharashtra has barely got 4 stations (to be touched by the bullet train), while the maximum stops are in Gujarat,” he said.