'Modi government has done commendable work in two months'

Asserting that the Narendra Modi government has done commendable work since it assumed office two months ago, union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu Sunday said it was trying to put the country's economy back on rails.

He told reporters here that the economy was derailed during the UPA's rule and that the Modi government is trying to put it back on rails. He also blamed the previous government for messing up everything, including economy and administration, for devaluation of rupee and leaving behind a huge debt.

Naidu said inviting SAARC leaders at Modi's swearing-in as the prime minister sent a good message as for the first time in the history the heads of the SAARC countries came together on such a platform.

The prime minister also attended BRICS summit and India was made the first chairman of the newly-set up BRICS Bank, he said, adding that Modi demonstrated his foreign policy and took the initiative in improving ties with the member countries. The prime minister held talks with the leaders of other countries.

Naidu said the government in its first budget took several development-oriented measures and tried to create atmosphere conducive for investment. "The government created confidence among people about their future. It also began efforts to solve various problems faced by the country," he said.

The minister claimed that the government also tried to strengthen the railways and started work on pending projects.

Naidu, who also holds the parliamentary affairs portfolio, lashed out at the Congress party for criticizing the National Democratic Alliance government for the very decisions that had been taken during the United Progressive Alliance's 10-year rule but not implemented for one reason or the other.

He said that it was the Congress government which decided to increase rail tariff but put on hold its implementation fearing a poll debacle but the same party was now criticising the NDA government for implementing the decision.

"The Congress is unable to digest the fact that it was defeated in the elections," he said and advised the opposition party to act with maturity and not to score "self-goals".

He said the Congress was demanding a statement by Modi in parliament about the BRICS summit but forgot the fact that Manmohan Singh attended the conference five times and never made a statement.

Attributing the price rise to the wrong policies pursued by the previous Congress-led government, the union minister said it was surprising that the Congress was blaming the NDA government for it.

"The price rise is caused by the economic policies of the government. Our government has just made the beginning and its policies of last one month can't be responsible for this. Let the government run for a year or two and then criticise," he told the opposition.

Naidu said the Congress was responsible for creating problems in the conduct of civil services exams in 2011 and 2013 but was targeting the new government for the same. He said the government had appointed a committee to look into the grievances of the students.