1.the GDP growth rate registered during BJP six years was on an average 5.8 per cent and not “over 6 per cent” as claimed by the BJP. it is a well-known fact that after the disastrous fiscal year 2002-03 the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee decided to make a change in the Finance Ministry. He brought in Jaswant Singh to replace Yashwant Sinha.
2.The NDA regime raised the price of petrol over six years by Rs. 11 a litre even though, comparatively, the prices of international crude were low, ranging from $12 to 34 a barrel as against $134 now. Nobody at that time behaved and talked as if “economic terrorism” had been unleashed on the country
3.The NDA increased the price of kerosene used by the poor from 2.52 a litre in 1998 to over Rs. 9 a litre in 2003, an increase of over 350 per cent! The UPA has almost completely spared this section of consumers, raising the price by only 8 paise during the last four years.
4.Again the NDA raised the price of a cooking gas cylinder by Rs. 110 over its six-year regime. And, yet, it wants the UPA to quit office for raising the price by Rs. 83 over four years, including the recent hike of Rs. 50. Prices are hurting, but this high decibel debate needs to take place in the realm of facts
