Chidu pitches for youth in polls, says no govt delivered growth as UPA did

Finance Minister P Chidambaram today made a spirited speech at the All India Congress Committee meeting, listing out the milestones under the United Progressive Alliance’s rule over the last 10 years and making a strong pitch for more young blood among the party’s candidates in the next elections.

“In at least at least 272 Parliament seats, the Congress should field candidates below the age of 35 years. Our slogan for campaign under Rahul Gandhi should be Young India, Empowered India,” Chidambaram said to cheering crowds at the Talkatora Stadium today.

Projecting the positives of the inclusive development model of the Congress, which has drawn criticism from a section of the economists, the finance minister said everyone is equal for the Congress.

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“Idea of India is not that we will grow but to ensure growth leads to inclusive development. Idea of India is to build a democratic and liberal society. I challenge any political party to deliver the record of growth that UPA has,” he said.

At 38.1 percent, the country achieved the best investment rate in 2007-08, he said. The highest forex reserve addition at $92 billion also happened during this year.

Listing out the achievements of the UPA government, he said 10 years ago the electricity generation in the country was around 1.12 lakh MW. Now it is 2.11 lakh MW. The capacity addition has been in economically backward states like Arunachal Pradesh and Jharkhand. This is not just development, it is inclusive development, he said.

Similarly, 10 years ago food grain production was 213 million tonne, which now stands at 259 million tonnes. The minimum support price for wheat has been increased form about Rs 600 to Rs 1,350 per quintal over the period, he said, adding this has benefited the farmers.

Banks had just 46,769 branches then. Now, there are 74,405 branches. The expansion, again, has happened in backward states like Rajasthan and troubled J&K, he said.

Harping on the UPA brand of inclusive development which he claimed has rendered social justice to the economically weaker sections of the society like Dalits and Adivasis, he said there has been significant addition to the rural roads infrastructure too.

The UPA government under the leadership of Sonai Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has delivered substantial inclusive growth over the last 10 years. “You need to remember this,” he told the Congress workers.

According to him, last 10 years belonged to the Congress party. In the next 10 years too, people will entrust their future to Congress party.