D. Raja calls for economic development with social justice

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja on Sunday questioned the economic policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre and called for economic development with social justice.

Raja said everybody wants that the economy should grow and move forward but economic development should take place along with ensuring social justice to all sections of the society.

"The way this government is moving on economic policies which are is in our opinion right wing and moving towards right wing positions on economic policies will deprive the vast sections of our people particularly the piling sections of our people," Raja told ANI here.

"That is where, the question of economic development with social justice. And then only, we can think of economy growing faster, economy growing inclusive," he added.

The CPI leader also raised doubts on whether the Niti Aayog would help the various state governments.

"In fact, the Prime Minister has talked about planning, how the Niti Aayog has been constituted, it will help state governments. I do not know how far it is going to help the state governments, how far it is going to help to overcome the regional imbalances , to overcome the social imbalances that is there in our country," he said.

Raja claimed that there is nothing new in what Prime Minister Modi has spoken at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit in Gandhinagar.

"He has been repeating what he has been speaking all along and it's nothing but another round of rhetorics before the NRI audience. In fact, what the Prime Minister tries to convey his government is trying to create all conditions for investors to come and do business and he has been assuring everybody that FDI will be allowed in defence, railways and all other sectors," said Raja.

"So, he is assuring others that Indian economy will further be opened up for FDI and conditions will be created for outsiders, investors to come and do business easily and in a very profitable manner. That's what Prime Minister has assured," he added.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Ashutosh said that the Prime Minister should concentrate on delivering every promise that he has made so far instead of making big promises.

"I will make a humble request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he should concentrate on delivering and not on big promises," he said.

Ashutosh alleged that the country is going towards another economic crisis since Prime Minister Modi has taken charge.

"The petrol prices at the international level are 50 USD per barrel but in India it is just Rs 65, why it is so? Because he believes in big promises and not on deliveries. He should start immediately the economic reform process, he should speed up otherwise the country will face a serious problem," he said.

Speaking at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit in Gandhinagar earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi invited the global investors to participate in his government's 'Make in India' initiative, adding that the nation will offer potential stakeholders the 'three Ds: democracy, demography and demand'.

"We launched 'Make in India' to encourage growth of manufacturing in country, we are working hard to make India a global manufacturing hub. Wherever I went I found a curiosity, an attraction and feeling of pride towards India. Countries are coming forward to work with us," Prime Minister Modi said.

"India offers you three Ds: democracy, demography and demand. This is what you are looking for. You will not find all of them together at any other destination of the world," he added.

Asserting that he was committed to reviving the Indian economy, the Prime Minister pledged to create a fair and transparent policy environment.