Digital India is renamed UPA scheme: Cong

The Left and Samajwadi Party also hit out at the Modi government for its attempt at "self-aggrandisement" and its skewed priorities

On a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his ambitious Digital India initiative, the Congress claimed it was originally a United Progressive Alliance (UPA) scheme - the National e-Governance Plan - and the National Democratic Alliance government has only renamed it.

The Left and Samajwadi Party (SP) also hit out at the Modi government for its attempt at "self-aggrandisement" and its skewed priorities.

Congress communication chief Randeep Surjewala attacked the government, saying: "The BJP government pats its back on successfully renaming yet another UPA venture, National e-Governance Plan, as Digital India. The foundation for Digital India was laid by late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi by unleashing the IT potential of the country."

The Congress said the UPA regime had taken major strides in digitisation - e-governance, e-commerce, etc., and the Modi government cannot grab credit for all that was achieved.

Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s KN Balgopal said the government had a tendency to take credit for achievements that have resulted through technological advancements and efforts by the people. He said his home state Kerala was a pioneer in the field of e-governance and was much ahead of other states. He slammed the Modi government for "self-promotion".

Lambasting the Modi government for wooing industry and not paying attention to agrarian distress or farmer suicides, SP's Naresh Agarwal said, "Before the government focuses on digitisation it has to ensure the poor get food, shelter and employment."