RS begins debate on Prez speech

Rajya Sabha began the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address on Wednesday.

Rajya Sabha began the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address on Wednesday.

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Opening the debate, Congress MP P.J Kurien said the President’s speech laid out the pro-people vision as well as the other objectives of the UPA government.

“What no other government was able to do before, the UPA government has done that. We were able to find Rs.75,000 crore for waiver of loans. So much money has been given under NREGA, substantial increase in the allocation for all the rural development programmes; substantial increase in allocation for all welfare measures,” Kurien said.

He said the government could afford this spending because of the “proper economic policies followed by the government, which was initiated by the “then finance minister, who is the present Prime Minister of this country.”

He admitted that the like the Left, he too had “some doubt” when the country embarked on the path of economic liberalisation, but said the policies had achieved sustainable economic growth.