Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Wednesday slammed the Central government over National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) by saying that the new scheme will create monopoly and duopoly in the economy.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Pilot questioned the government's decision to "lease core strategic assets of the country to private entities".
"The government said that NMP will get revenue of Rs 6 lakh crores for the next four years. The money that they will raise, will it go to fulfil the Rs 5.5 lakh crores deficit that we are running today or is it there to boost revenue," he stated.
"There is already a problem of unemployment in our country. When private entities take over the assets like railways, telecom and aviation, they will certainly lay off more people to make profits, which means more unemployment," he added.
Pilot further said that handing over important assets of the country to a handful of people will create a monopoly and duopoly in the economy.
The Congress MLA asserted that the NMP poses serious questions on the country's integrity and security. "I want to ask what stops the international funds to make an investment and take a stake in these important assets," he stated.
"There are many countries that forbid Chinese entities to bid for telecom tower or fibre optical cable. I want to question the government what safeguards have been placed in NMP to stop inappropriate entities from bidding for our core strategic assets," he added.
Pilot called the government's decision regarding NMP as 'unilateral' that happened without any discussion with trade unions, stakeholders or the Opposition. He further questioned the transparency of the whole process and how it is going to benefit people.
"Will the money raised be used to double farmers' income or to give Rs 15 lakhs to every Indian citizen as promised by the government? Or will it be used to make a building complex or in some vanity project," he questioned.
Pilot criticised the government for inflation and unemployment and said that the current government has failed in all sectors of the economy. He also raised a question about mismanagement during the Covid-19 crisis.
"The Covid-19 vaccine was being sold at different prices to the Central government, state government and the hospitals. When the same thing is sold at three different prices, there will be black marketing," he said.
He added that the current government was only known for its marketing and branding. "I recall we have had a very successful polio eradication campaign that went on for decades. Never saw then Prime Ministers, leaders marketing or making people feel obliged about it," he stated.
( With inputs from ANI )
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