New Delhi: At a time when the UP civic polls and Gujarat elections are approaching, Aam Aadmi Party ’s sixth national council meeting on Thursday passed a resolution saying that the Narendra Modi-led NDA government should present a white paper on demonetisation and GST .

It also demanded that the Lokpal Bill, which Delhi assembly had approved, should be cleared at the earliest so that Delhi can implement it.

The council dwelt on the current national political environment, economic situation, farmer distress, unemployment and both central and state Lokpal.

Other resolutions adopted at the meet related to “restrictions on free speech and expression” under the Modi government and the “undeclared emergency” by the Centre.

The council, attended by over 350 party members from across the country, demanded that VVPAT should be used in all upcoming elections and EVMs with paper trail should be made compulsory in 25% of the booths.

Touching on its major grouse against the Centre, it alleged that with the help of the lieutenant-governor, it was stopping the elected government of Delhi from working for people. “The Centre should pass the Jan Lokpal Bill passed by the Delhi assembly and implement it,” AAP functionary Sanjay Singh said at a press conference after the meeting.

“For consecutive quarters, the GDP growth of the country has been falling. It has fallen to 5.7% because of the anti-people policies of the government. Interest rates were reduced to benefit big-ticket defaulters and it hurt the small investors very badly,” said one of the resolutions. Calling GST and demonetisation foul plays, the resolution demanded a public apology from the government. It also said that all big-ticket loan defaulters should be identified, their names made public and their assets attached.

Speaking at the national council, Singh said the economy was in good health when Narendra Modi became PM. “The GDP was close to 8.7 per cent but now it has come down to 5.7 per cent,” he said.

“Religious passion is being used to divert attention from such issues,” Singh said, largely blaming demonetisation and GST for it. “Though the tax slabs were hiked under GST, Narendra Modi presented it as a celebration for the country.”

The council also spoke up for farmers. “The farmers are in distress and that has forced many to commit suicide. They are getting a pittance in the name of loan waiver while the government is waiving loans of corporate houses worth lakhs of crores,” another resolution said.

The council demanded waiver of farmers’ loans, implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan committee report and fixing minimum support price at a margin of 50% profit on the investment by the farmers. It also demanded suitable compensation and jobs for the farmers’ families whose member have committed suicide.

A resolution on youth dwelt on unemployment and demanded that government should focus on higher education and employment with skill development. It demanded higher budget allocation for quality education and loan without collateral for students and young entrepreneurs.

