Paswan flags ‘no vacancy’ placard for PM post

Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan has pitched for a stronger Opposition and said it was a prerequisite for a healthy democracy.

The comment from the Minister in the Narendra Modi Government has come at a time when the BJP has to face series of debacles in recent byelections across the country.

Replying to a question asked about weakening NDA after its Government at the Centre has just completed four years in the office, Paswan underlined the importance of his party in the turn of events during 2019 polls.

“Opposition is so weak that the there is no leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. I am in politics since 1969 and I personally believe that there should be a strong Opposition in democracy and it should work together with the Government,” said the Cabinet Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on Friday addressing a press conference organised to dispense achievements under Modi rule.

At the same time, the Dalit leader rejected the possibility of any change at the helm after the next general elections underling asymmetrical relations prevailing among the parties into the Opposition camp.

“This unity of the Opposition is not going to last forever. They have come together banking on caste, especially in Bihar and UP where development retains back seat. When their egos clash at the time of the general elections where would be the unity? Till now no one has stated Rahul Gandhi as his leader,” said Paswan flagging ‘no vacancy’ placard for the PM post in 2019 while hailing Narendra Modi as the sole leader.

Coming to the unrest by farmers whose organisations have called for ‘village bandh’ across the country, the Minister said that the Government had taken several steps to ease their problems. “I admit there are problems. The Government is working on doubling their income and is growing MSP regularly. Last year, we had to face steep price rise of pulses and the Government intervened to stabilise that. Now pulses have gone cheaper, but farmers are agitating against lower rate. In spite of all that the Department would purchase all the stocks with farmers,” said the Minister. Also present on the occasion was Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Chemical and Fertilizers Mansukh L Mandaviya who said the Modi Government in the last four years had been implementing its manifesto. “Country is changing and going ahead. Previously Governments would prepare and announce manifestos but we have implemented it. The Government has taken every step keeping poor, exploited and under-privileged in mind. Effects of the reforms like GST, demonetisation would be reflected after 10 years and newer generation would talk about these,” said Mandaviya claiming the regime as corruption free.