Jammu, Sep 23: Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Saturday ruled out any threat to UPA government in New Delhi following withdrawal of support by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.
Talking to mediapersons in Jammu during his two day visit, Azad said that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has support of over 300 MPs in the Lok Sabha, including the parties giving inside and outside support. "So there is no question of any threat to the government," he remarked.
The health minister reminded: "P.V. Narasimha Rao's government managed to run smoothly for five years from 1991 to 1996 with only 250 MPs."
Commenting on the recent steps taken by the central government to hike diesel prices, cap on number of subsidized cooking gas cylinders and allowing foreign direct investment in retail market, Azad said: "Had these steps been take earlier there would have been much improvement in country's economy."
Azad said India has managed well on economic front despite the global economy under recession for the past few years.
"But now such steps were the need of the hour," Azad said, justifying the economic measures, that led to walking out of Mamata Banerjee from the fold of the UPA.
