BJP's Bihar rout due to Modi's autocratic functioning: Cong

Shimla, Nov 9: The Bihar Assembly poll verdict was the rejection of "arrogant and autocratic style" of functioning of Prime minister Narendra Modi and his "communal, casteist and divisive politics", Deputy leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha, Anand Sharma said today.

"The voters of Bihar have given a clear mandate in favour of progressive, democratic and secular forces like RJD, JD(U) and the Congress and rejected the communal and divisive forces, led by BJP which has created an atmosphere of intolerance in the country," he told reporters here.

The Grand Alliance routed the BJP-led NDA in Bihar yesterday to score a landslide two-thirds majority in the Bihar Assembly giving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar a third term in office in a battle in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi staked his all.

Making a spectacular comeback after the severe drubbing in the last year's Lok Sabha polls at the hands of Modi, the newly-formed JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance secured 178 seats in the 243-member House.

The Congress leader opined that liberty was the essence of parliamentary democracy and no democratically elected government can dictate the people what they will eat, wear or speak. He asked the Prime minister to read the message and shed his "arrogance" and reach out to opposition for meaningful dialogue on all complex issues.

"Issues of intolerance which concerned every Indian were there even before the Bihar polls but people have rejected this cult and now we will work together with the other opposition parties," he said. Sharma said that Modi lacked the "grace" that a leader adorning the office of the Prime minister must have and "stands thoroughly exposed" and the people are feeling betrayed and let down as he has failed to fulfil the promises.

Accusing the Modi government of carrying out the bitter propaganda of RSS-BJP combine, the senior Congress leader said, "It is the duty of the government to ensure smooth transition of business in the Parliament and undertake constructive engagement but even today the BJP is indulging in a 24x7 campaign to condemn the opposition”.

The former Commerce Minister stated that the economy was in a bad shape. The exports have shown a declining trend for tenth month in a row.

All the indicators of growth are on negative side and had there not been a sharp decline in prices of crude oil internationally, Indian economy would have been in the ICU, he said. "PM does not stop harping about the pace of growth but growth alone is not adequate, unless and until there is job creation and capital assets are created," Sharma added.

PTI