BJP's National Council meet

A day after the Congress took on the BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, a combative BJP hit back, saying the UPA has squandered away several opportunities to improve the economy over the past one decade it was in power. The Congress-led coalition’s “inaction” throws up a “big challenge” for the next regime in improving the economy, the main opposition party said. Throwing its weight behind Modi, the BJP also said the ruling coalition leader’s tirade against the Gujarat chief minister was based on “lies and misinformation”.
Party president Rajnath Singh said a “helpless” Congress was using false propaganda to discredit the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. Without naming Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, BJP leader Arun Jaitley hit back at him for his “comb” remarks, saying there is one party which can earn a commission whether there is a haircut or selling of a comb — Gandhi had said on Friday: “Opposition is so good in marketing they can even sell comb to bald people. But the newcomers [a veiled reference to AAP] go one step further. They can even cut the hair of bald people.”
At its largest party meeting ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP promised policies which can bridge the gap between rich and poor, end the disparities, encourage enterprises and industry, serve farmers’ interests and create employment opportunities for youth.

“The BJP will increase the investment in infrastructure by doubling the share of infra investment to GDP ratio,” Singh said in his presidential address at the party’s national council meeting. He also said the BJP was committed to simplifying the tax system and giving some measure of relief to the common man.
Later, while moving the economic resolution, Jaitley lashed out at the UPA’s policies and said, “I will tell Narendrabhai that the responsibility seems to be coming to us. But with the kind of resources being left behind and a growth rate of just 4-5% there will be challenges for you and your colleagues.” He alleged the economy has been ruined by the UPA and its corruption.
“Schemes for the poor can be made when the government has the money, but when there are no resources what can a government do?” Jaitley asked.
On Mani Shankar Aiyar’s controversial statement — that Modi would never become PM but he could sell tea at the AICC meet venue — Singh said, “It shows the Congress’s feudal mindset. The BJP is a democratic party. Even a tea vendor can become PM and a farmer can become the party president. In Congress, only a particular family has the right to the post of PM. Or it decides who should be PM.”