Chidambaram busts ''myth'' of India's glorious past

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Lucknow, Aug 25 (UNI) Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram today chose to disagree with the contention that India of yore was a country of abundance, where rivers of milk and honey flowed.

''It is a great historical myth...,'' the bespectacled minister quipped.

''Poverty has always been there in India and whosoever propounded the myth about India being a rich country was wrong,'' he noted.

''The teachings that India was a country of milk and honey about 500 hundred years back is factually incorrect,'' Mr Chidamabaram said adding, ''Poverty was there and still is there in India...although sporadic prosperous pockets existed.'' Mr Chidambaram was here in connection with the promotion of his book 'An outside view - Why good economics work for everyone' at an interactive book signing session organised by the Indian Express Group and Landmark Book Store here at a leading mall.

His visit coincided with the launch of the Lucknow edition of 'Financial Express'.

Samajwadi Party MP Mahendra Mohan Gupta, Editor-in-chief of Express group Shekhar Gupta and IIM-Lucknow Director Prof Devi Singh shared the dias with Mr Chidambaram at this function.

The finance minister, however, expressed great optimism as far as the poverty alleviation is concerned saying ''I would like the poverty of our country to be removed in my lifetime.'' The extract of his book -- considered to be an authentic commentary on Indian economy and reforms process -- were also read out at the select gathering.

Mr Chidambaram also signed the books purchased during the day.

UNI

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