DF Govt would dethrone itself -- Joshi

DF Govt would dethrone itself -- Joshi
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NAGPUR, FEBRUARY 1: Former chief minister and the Union Minister for Heavy Industries and PSUs Manohar Joshi on Monday lambasted the Democratic Front Government for reverting the decisions taken by the previous government and said it would have long-term ramifications on the progress of the State.

Deferring and cancelling the programmes launched by the Sena-BJP Government solely on the premise that the budget did not permit them, was not only against the peoples' interests, but it will also put the brakes on the development, Joshi said.

He was speaking in reply to the felicitation accorded by the district Shiv Sena unit to him and the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Suresh Prabhu, at Dr Vasantrao Deshpande hall on Monday evening. The Union Minister of State for Finance, Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil, who was also one of those to be felicitated, could not make it to the function.

Joshi justified the Sena-BJP Government's decision to raise bonds to the tune of over Rs 45,000 crore for developmentalprojects during its four-and-a-half year term, and said the decision was taken with full responsibility as the Government was confident of repaying the loans. Several welfare schemes like drinking water projects, education to women and children were to be undertaken through them, Joshi said. He lamented that the same may not see the light of the day if the present attitude of the DF Government continued.

He warned the Government of the consequences saying that it would be dethroned by its own deeds.

Commenting on his transition from state politics to the Centre, Joshi said the change gave him exposure to a wide canvass. "Earlier, I used to look after all departments of just one state, but now I have to concentrate on just one department but think of the entire nation," he added.

He said, he was well aware of the problems of Vidarbha, most of which were related to economic issues.