Patil’s address lacks connection with common man: BJP

The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) Monday said President Pratibha Patil’s address to Parliament lacked the connection to the economy of the common man who is forced to bear the burden of price rise.

“The address does not indicate steps that the government intends to take in order to revive economic sentiments. There is no mention of how the economy can be improved and how it will benefit the common man,” said BJP leader, S.S. Ahluwalia.

“The pressure the economy is imposing on the common man is tremendous,” he added.

The BJP leader said the opposition had started its course in Parliament on issues such as the controversial anti-terror intelligence hub and discussion on demands of trade unions.

“In the name of national and internal security, the government is forcing National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and national intelligence grid, without consulting state governments or their chief ministers,” Ahluwalia said, adding that the issue is likely to be discussed over the next three days.

Odisha’s chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Bihar’s Nitish Kumar and Tamil Nadu’s J. Jayalalithaa have raised objections against the anti-terror intelligence hub that is aimed at integrating and analysing inputs on terror threats in India.

“On the sensitive issues, there is a possibility to propose amendments. This is virtually snatching the rights of states without consulting them. We have just heard the speech, we have to go into the nitty-gritty of each paragraph,” the BJP leader said. “We have to file our amendments by evening or tomorrow morning.”

Addressing the joint session of Parliament on the first day of the budget session, the president had said the current year had been a difficult year for global economy, while the Indian economy had maintained a healthy growth.

The president’s address was disrupted on issues like Telangana, atrocities on Sri Lankan Tamils, sub-quota for minorities, and shortage of fertilisers.