Congress accuses Jaitley of 'big talk' on inflation

Mumbai, May 23: Launching a scathing attack on the Centre's claim of arresting inflation, Congress leader Kapil Sibal today accused Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of indulging in "big talk" and sought to know if he had ever visited a market to know about the situation.

Punching holes in its claim of achievements, Sibal also took a few potshots at the government seizing on the slogans coined by the ruling dispensation to promote its image.

Questioning Jaitley's statement that inflation had been brought under control since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister a year back, Sibal told reporters here that the finance minister was indulging in "big talk".

"Badi badi baatein karte hain Jaitley sahab...He says they have controlled inflation," the former union minister said.

"I would like to ask Jaitley: Have you been near the first floor of the North Block? Have you been to the market? What will a person who sits in North Block know about market," Sibal said.

They have given the slogan of "saal ek, kaam anek' but in reality, it is "saal ek, baatein anek", Sibal said.

"All the work they claim to have done is in the air (kaam sab hawa mein hai). We don't see that work on ground. Do you see it," he added.

"In last one year, Modi was on foreign tour for 53 days and was touring India for 48 days. No Prime Minister had criticised India while on foreign tour but Modi did that," Sibal said.

Their slogan is of Congress-free India but this will never be a reality, Sibal claimed. "They promised toll-free Maharashtra but this has not been done," he said.

PTI