BJP failed to keep promises : Chidambaram

Former Finance Minister and Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram arrived at Guwahati on Thursday night  to strategize the plans for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and held a meeting  with the  party workers. Chidambaram   lambasted the Bharatiya Janata Party  (BJP) for failing to failing to fulfill its promises while interacting with media at Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati on Friday.

"The BJP has failed to fulfill the promises it made to the people of Assam. All the promises were poll gimmick. The present economy of the country is the example of such gimmicks," he said.

He mentioned that the credibility of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is at stake  due to the BJP government at the Centre.

"Our immediate concern is the BJP government's determined efforts to wreck or capture crucial institutions of the country. The latest victim is the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). BJP has no understanding of the role of a central bank and has no respect for the independence of the RBI Governor."

"Now, the government wants money to step up expenditure in an election year. The government demanded Rs 1 lakh crore from the reserves of the RBI. No government has till now made such proposal to the RBI. Directing the RBI to transfer money is way more dangerous the note ban," he added.

Speaking about demonetization, Chidambaram said demonetization was an 'ill conceived move' inspired by one or more persons who were totally unqualified on matters concerning money and the economy, adding that its consequences were 'catastrophic'.

"A government that will not admit its mistakes and will not learn from its mistakes does not deserve to govern the country," he added.

Speaking about GST, Chidambaram said  the Goods and Services Tax (GST) raised the tax burden on the common man. He also termed the GST implemented by the BJP government as a fake one.

Chidambaram also flayed the Government for not clearing its stand on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

"This Bill, if passed, will dissolve the Assam Accord. Only one person is running the government, country," he said.