BJP national president Shri Nitin Gadkari described, the decision of the UPA government to withdraw special industrial package granted to Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh as unjust and undemocratic. “The Centre’s decision would amount to breach of trust with the industry as well as the people of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. It is illegal, unconstitutional and unfortunate on the part of the UPA Government to withdraw the package granted by the NDA Government before time. More than 2 lakh potential jobs were lost as a result,” he said while addressing party’s Janakrosh Rally organised at Parade Ground in Dehradun on July 8.
Shri Gadkari who was on his maiden visit to Uttarakhand after assuming the charge as party president made it clear that if the BJP comes to power in 2014, it would restore the package with retrospective effect.
Shri Gadkari warned if the Congress-led UPA Government fails to extend the industrial package the BJP would raise the issue both in the Parliament and on the streets. It is to be noted that in 2005, the then Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee-led NDA Government had granted industrial package to northern-eastern states including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The package offered excise duty exemption for ten years, 50 per cent rebate on Income Tax for five years and 30 per cent rebate on IT exemption in the next five years. While the BJP ruled states have been denied the package it has been extended to J&K where there is a Congress supported government. “It is a discrimination against BJP ruled states,” alleged Shri Gadkari appealing to the Prime Minister not to punish the people of these two states by denying their right to get industrial package.
Shri Gadkari charged the Congress of maintaining a studied silence over Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley’s reported revelation that Ishrat Jahaan was a Lashkar-e-Toiba suicide bomber. “The Congress had raised questions against the Gujarat police over the Ishrat encounter, but after Headley’s revelation they are tight-lipped,” he said, seeking Congress response to the development.
Expressing concern over Chinese incursions in the country, Shri Gadkari said the Chinese are making intrusions into India at a number of places and the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre is a mute spectator to such activities. He said even Bangladeshis have also sneaked into the country in big numbers. He accused the Congress of doing little to check these intrusions by foreign nationals. He reminded that a BJP team with BS Koshiyari as its member had submitted a report on Chinese incursions to its leadership expressing concerns on the development.
Shri Gadkari saluted the people of Uttarakhand for giving a large number of brave soldiers to the country who have sacrificed their lives for the country. He also praised some policies of the State government and said that these would help alleviate problems faced by people living in remote and inaccessible areas.
Former Chief Minister Shri BC Khanduri blamed the Congress for its policies that has led to inflation and hardship for the common people. Shri Khanduri also raised the issue of ex-servicemen welfare asserting that it is only the BJP that cares for the defence personnel.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said the State is set to lose as many as nine lakh jobs due to the discontinuation of special industrial package. He charged the Congress-led Centre of depriving the State of even foodgrain.
BJP national vice-president BS Koshiyari expressed concern over alleged increasing Maoist threat in Uttarakhand. He reminded the gathering of contribution of the Uttarakhand youth in safeguarding the frontiers of the nation.
Uttarakhand BJP president BS Chufal welcomed Shri Gadkari to Uttarakhand. He assured Shri Gadkari of a resounding success of the party in the 2012 Assembly Elections in the State.
Shri Gadkari also called on veteran BJP leader and first Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Nityanand Swami at his residence. Apart from the rally Shri Gadkari also had meetings with party workers and addressed the two-day State party executive committee meeting. He visited Divya Prem Sewa Mission, Haridwar, on July 10.
