Cong a party of 'Luddites', blocking every change: M J Akbar

Union Minister M J Akbar today likened the Congress to "Luddite" group during the industrial revolution in Britain which blocked every change, and alleged that the opposition party stood for "pro-corrupt status-quo".
Speaking after inaugurating the 'Digidhan Mela' here, he launched a scathing attack on the Congress for "opposing this great massive sweeping transformation" brought in by demonetisation that is taking the country towards a digital and cashless economy.
"There was a group called Luddite which blocked every change by even breaking up machinery that would bring in change. Regrettably or perhaps inevitably the Congress has become a party of Luddites who are against any change and who are for a pro-corrupt status quo," the Union Minister of State for External Affairs alleged.

"One cannot even sometimes believe the intensity of their (Congress') campaign in order to protect the corrupt," Akbar said, adding that one of the biggest enemies of poor is corruption because it steals national resources of "our nation and transfers them into the pockets of a few".
"The story of hundreds of thousands of crores in the 10 years that has... Before this government... Where did that money go? That money was people's money; it disappeared into the possession of a few," he alleged, referring to the previous 10-year UPA rule.
Highlighting the importance of Jan Dhan programme, Akbar termed it a move of "taking the straight digital route into the lives of the poor".

"Today, poor have a place in which money can be sent directly," he said.

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Akbar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a man with practical vision and added that "he stands to eliminate the poverty and corruption in the country."
He said Union government has been working to create a historic revolution to combat black money and corruption which is not happened in last 70 years.
The minister also urged bankers and financial institutions to work together for the development of the poor in rural areas across the country.
Speaking at the event earlier, Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said the Digidhan Mela creates awareness among people towards digital transactions.

Such melas are very much helpful for the farmers, labourers and workers to open bank accounts and also enroll for Aadhaar card, he said.
"NDA government has been working to eradicate poverty and to improve the livelihood of the poorest of the poor in the country," the minister said.
Speaking about digital literacy in Telangana, Dattatreya said 5,45,148 people were trained in digital transactions at the gram panchayts' level besides 1.29 lakh people running small business. He said more than 350 workshops were also conducted for the purpose.
He said a total of 65,000 small business traders are accepting cashless transactions at mandal level in Telangana for purchasing goods.