Rahul unable to see the reality, says Rajnath

Hitting back Rahul Gandhi over remarks suggesting that graft levels in Himachal Pradesh were lower than in Gujarat, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today that the Congress vice president suffered from "defective vision" and could not see the reality.

The home minister claimed that the government's efforts to curb terror funding had reduced naxal activities by 52 per cent and said that a BJP government in Himachal would ensure 33 per cent reservation for women in police.

Singh also accused the Congress of unleashing malicious propaganda on demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and said these measures would lead to major gains in the long run.

"This is short term pain for long term gains and these measures would not only bring reforms but have also squeezed terror funding," he said talking to mediapersons on the last day of campaigning for the state Assembly polls here.

Singh took a swipe at Gandhi saying he suffered from "defective vision" and "could not see the reality", when asked about the Congress leader's remarks that according to a NITI Aayog report Himachal fared better than Gujarat in many areas and corruption levels in the hill state were lower compared to others.

Refuting Congress allegations that the economy was in bad shape, the home minister said that during the UPA regime the rate of inflation was more than the GDP growth rate.

Now, current account deficit has decreased and investment is flowing in, he said. Why is foreign investment coming to India if the economy is in a bad shape? he asked.

The Army, police and intelligence agencies were working in tandem in Kashmir and Pakistan's bids to infiltrate miscreants were being thwarted while three or four terrorists were being eliminated by security forces daily, he said.

"The curbs on terror funding have reduced naxal activities by 52 per cent," Singh said adding that efforts were on to control terrorism in Kashmir.

Claiming that the BJP was heading for a landslide victory in a one-sided Himachal elections, he said that party would win two-thirds majority.

"There is a trust and governance deficit and people are fed up and want change," he said.

He added that 33 per cent reservation would be made for women in police after the BJP comes to power in the state to prevent the incidents like Gudiya rape and murder case and ensure security of women.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already said that loopholes and shortcomings in the GST would be removed and the process is on.

When pointed out that the BJP has taken the son of former Union minister Sukh Ram, who was convicted in telecom case into the party, Singh said that there will be no compromise with corruption and action would be taken against all those found guilty.