NDA programmes replicate those of UPA: Congress

New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi
Azad Wednesday alleged the NDA programmes were a copy of the UPA programmes and questioned the government's silence on communalism.

Participating in the debate on motion of thanks to President Pranab Mukherjee's address to the joint session of parliament, the Congress leader said the government was publicising more and doing less.

"The Swachch Bharat programme was there in the form of Nirmal Bharat. Jan Dhan Yojna was known as financial inclusion, many accounts were already opened.

"Skill India was skill development mission, and five crore people were skilled in our time... The planning commission was made Niti Ayog," Azad said.

"Rajiv Gandhi's mission for clean Ganga was changed to Namami Gange," he said while pointing out that minorities did not find any mention in the president's address.

"Minorities were not even mentioned in the speech. There was nothing on women's reservation either."

Describing communalism as "the biggest threat to the nation", Azad said there was "no mention" of any national plan to curb incidents of communal violence.

He also mentioned about issues like 'ghar wapsi' (homecoming), 'love-jihad', incidents of attacks on churches and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's reported controversial remarks on Mother Teresa.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the house, Azad said: "Prime minister, you don't face a threat from us, but from within."

The leader of opposition also pointed out that there was no mention of black money in the speech or employment to youth.

"Black money, last year was a major issue, this time there was no mention of
bringing back black money. There is no mention of employment to youth
either," he said.

Taking a jibe at the BJP-led government, Azad said: "Congress is hero when it comes to work but zero when it comes to publicity. BJP is zero in work and hero in publicity."

Earlier, moving the Motion, BJP's Bhupender Yadav said the government had brought simplicity in procedures and transparency in government functioning. "The government is committed for all inclusive development."