BJP challenges Cong to debate on economy

New Delhi: A day after Narendra Modi put forth his views on economy, BJP on Friday challenged Congress for an open debate on the economic vision adopted for revival of the country`s sagging economy.

BJP also criticised Congress for being "silent" after Modi came out with his economic agenda and took pot shots at the ruling party saying it seems a snake has stunned them. "Congress, which is always eager to pick holes on tertiary points of his (Modi`s) speech, has suddenly gone silent after a clear-cut road map presented by Modi. "Congress is running away from a debate. We challenge Congress for a debate on the ideas put forth by Modi. We look forward to them for the next 24 hours for a debate," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said. He claimed the speech and ideas given by Modi for revival of the country`s economy are important and were welcomed by all sections of society. "These ideas have created hope in the country about revival of the economy through faster decisions and good governance and not just through only policy announcements but its implementation," he said. Javadekar said Modi presented many ideas for revival of the economy, that included turning development into a people`s movement and employment creation through public investment in infrastructure and skilling while taking advantage of democracy, demography and demand in the country. He said that Modi had in his three speeches delivered in the national capital yesterday brought on the table the "failures" of UPA government and has given a direction for revival of our economy. "Let Congress accept the challenges and start discussion on the ideas he presented because these are ideas which will shape the future of the country," he said. Javadekar alleged UPA government has brought down the growth rate from 8.4 per cent to 4.8 per cent and claimed that during NDA rule the growth rate had grown from 4.8 per cent to 8.4 per cent.