BJP may discontinue rural job plan if voted to power: PC

Sivaganga (TN), Mar 28: Senior Congress leader and Finance Minister

today said

may not continue UPA's rural employment scheme if it was voted to power at the Centre and urged the electorate to vote for his party to derive benefits of welfare schemes.

"No senior BJP leader has said that they would continue the National Rural Employment Gurantee Scheme if voted to power," Chidambaram said addressing a series of meetings at villages, including Pazhaiyanur and Maranadu near here, introducing his party candidate and son Karti to the electorate.

Terming BJP as a party of "Hindi chauvinists, Hindu fundamentalists and big businessmen representing only the elite of the society," he said Congress stood for the common man and the marginalised sections of the society.

Engaging the people, he wanted to know from them why BJP did not launch welfare schemes like rural employment, farm loan waiver, and educational loans, while it was in power. Stating that both AIADMK and DMK's influence was confined to only Tamil Nadu, he said these parties could not do anything in Delhi in terms of government formation or decision-making as the Lok Sabha had 543 members.

"At best, the ten to fifteen DMK and ten to fifteen AIADMK members can fight there (Delhi) amongst themselves", he said.

Criticising Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for using helicopters to reach the venues of election meetings, he said "if you look from above, from the skies, road or rails will not be visible."

Outlining the development work done in his constituency, he said ground realities could be understood if a person visited villages and travelled by road like Congress icon and freedom fighter K Kamaraj.

PTI