Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, on Friday, proved that not only was he an astute finance man who knew his numbers, but also an equally savvy politician who had a way with words.

Making most of the platform that State trade body — Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry provided him in the election month, Chidambaram, using it as poll plank, lost no time in thrashing those opposed to pro-growth policies of the the UPA government while singing paeans of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Taking veritable potshot at both the allies and opposition parties’ reservation to UPA’s growth-oriented policies, Mr Chidambaram, in a veiled dig at alliance partners — the Left, said anybody against country’s economic growth were anti-poor and not UPA’s growth-oriented policies.

He said that the UPA did not believe in exclusive growth Chidambaram said, the UPA government at the Centre believed in economic growth that was inclusive.

“Growth is not an end in itself. It must be inclusive and embrace the marginalised in the country,” he added.
Defending UPA’s policy prescriptions that sought to spur growth, Chidambaram averred, “We must pursue policies which gave the country the economic strength as only an economically strong India could lead the world,”  he added.

Stating that competitiveness and efficiency were twin yokels that would drive growth and creation of wealth, the finance minister said faster growth leads to prosperity which led to better allocation and spending thereby bringing out inclusiveness.

Observing that while during the previous regimes the economic growth had averaged a moderate 5.8 per cent,  Chidambaram said, “It is the UPA with its pro-reform policies which has accelerated growth to 8.8 per cent in the last few years.”

“With the extra growth that is coming we are pursuing inclusive growth by framing policies without prejudice or favour,” he added.