New Delhi: Speaking to ETV Bharat's Anamika Ratna in an exclusive interaction, Smiriti Irani, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, clarified that the central government's agenda is not to sell any assets.
Irani was responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations on the recently proposed monetisation of key government assets.
"The government has clearly stated that no asset will be sold off and will only be monetised," she said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the central government over the move to monetise its assets across key sectors, adding the government "clearly mishandled the economy."
Countering the 'sale of assets' allegations levelled by Congress MP, Irani asked if the previous UPA government was trying to sell the state of Maharashtra when it monetised the Mumbai-Pune express highway to raise a capital of Rs. 8000 crore.
Congress alleged had an absence of strategy in privatisation move proposed by the Narendra Modi-led government.
Talking about the monetisation move, Irani also took a potshot at the Congress government which was tainted by a slew of graft charges towards end of its second subsequent term that concluded in 2014.
"Would congress not approve of privatisation that don't come with kickbacks," she asked.
Also Read: Govt clearly mishandled economy: Rahul Gandhi
Brushing aside Congress speculation that privatisation of government assets will put a check on fresh job recruitments, Irani said employments will be safeguarded, suggesting it happened otherwise during the previous congress tenures at the centre.
Speaking about the arrest of Union Minister for MSMEs Narayan Rane by Maharashtra government over his remarks about chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, she said that it would be 'concerning' to patriots on how the Maharashtra government broke the law of the land. She added that it happened because the people of Maharashtra welcomed the Jan Aashirwaad Yatra.
Launching attack on the opposition parties, Irani said they are indulging in 'revenge politics'. "They feel BJP workers will be rattled by the revenge politics. But it will embolden and strengthen them, as far as nation building is concerned.
When asked about Punjab congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu's advior's comments on Kashmir—which many including Congress leader and Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh was critical about—Irani implied there was a 'tactical' support of Rahul Gandhi to Sidhu on the matter.
"Otherwise, he would have talked about it. Any patriot will clarify on the matter," she said.
Sidhu's political advisor Malvinder S Mali had last week described Kashmir as 'the country of Kashmiri people'. His comments calling Kashmir an 'open jail' had also drawn criticism. Mali, on Monday had stood his ground on the comments, calling them 'Final'.
"It is not my concern if congress is divided or not. The country should not be divided," she said.
Also Read: Punjab Imbroglio: MLAs raise banner of revolt against Amarinder's captaincy
