By IANS,
New Delhi : Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram Tuesday said that the 2007-08 growth rate of the country was pegged at over 9.1 percent giving a “resounding start to the 11th five-year plan”.
Joining the debate on the vote of confidence for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Chidambaram said that the government had, in the last four years, sustained a growth rate of 8-9 percent.
“Show me any other four-year period in which so much has been achieved,” Chidambaram challenged the opposition.
He pointed out that the growth rate during the six years of rule of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government was just between 5-6 percent.
“2007-08 is a watershed year not only in our growth rate but also for a record production of wheat, rice and other foodgrains,” he said.
But in the same tone, the finance minister said that the suicides by farmers were worrying.
“We hang our heads in shame each time there is a farmer suicide anywhere,” he added.