Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Critiques Modi's Government On Unfulfilled Promises And Economic Management

Mallikarjun Kharge of Congress sharply criticises Prime Minister Modi's government for its reliance on empty promises and economic mismanagement, highlighting unfulfilled job creation and rising costs.

In a spirited rebuttal to accusations from Prime Minister Narendra Modi about Congress making impractical promises, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge aimed sharp criticism at the Modi administration. He claimed the current government's reliance on flashy public relations efforts and deceptive promises showed a lack of genuine commitment to the electorate's welfare. Kharge mocked the BJP’s 100-day plan as insubstantial and challenged Modi's assertion that his government’s vision for 2047 was shaped by feedback from two million individuals. This claim, according to Kharge, was debunked by an unsuccessful Right to Information (RTI) request to the Prime Minister's Office, suggesting the feedback process was a sham.

Kharge used a play on words to attack the BJP directly, stating that the party's initials stood for "Betrayal" and "Jumla" (meaning empty promises). This accusation was part of his broader critique of the party for not keeping its pledges to the electorate. This came in the wake of Modi's critique of the Congress for offering what he deemed unrealistic guarantees to the people of Karnataka, a move Kharge had previously warned the state's Congress unit against. He advised them to ensure their promises were budget-compliant to avoid economic mismanagement.

Kharge didn't stop at questioning the government's promise-making. He delved into the BJP's performance, highlighting several areas where he believed they had failed the Indian people. Among these were the unfulfilled promise of creating two crore jobs a year, leading to a job crisis unseen in 45 years and causing desperate job seekers to crowd into dangerous stampedes. He pointed to economic setbacks, noting a plummet in household savings to a 50-year low, a surge in the cost of basic necessities, and increased financial pressure on the middle class due to the imposition of GST on essential foods and elevated taxes.

Further, he criticized the economic policies under Modi's leadership, such as demonetization and the GST framework, as causes for the economic downturn. These, according to Kharge, led to the rupee's depreciation, a spike in national debt, and stagnation in private investment and manufacturing sectors. He also questioned the quality and safety of infrastructure projects, citing instances of construction failures and accidents as evidence of incompetence.

Kharge did not shy away from addressing alleged corruption within the Modi government, including the use of electoral bonds and the flight of fugitives like Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. He expressed concern over India's foreign policy direction, particularly the handling of the Galwan Valley skirmish with China and worsening relations with neighboring nations. Social issues, including rising crimes against SCs/STs and the contentious Agnipath military recruitment scheme, were also highlighted as areas where the BJP purportedly faltered, undermining social justice and security.

Concluding his comprehensive critique, Kharge labeled Modi's pledges as a "cruel joke" on the Indian populace, underscoring a perceived gap between promises and actions. On the other hand, Modi defended his administration, emphasizing Congress's history of unfulfilled promises and fiscal irresponsibility in states it governs. He argued that such governance harms the nation's poor, youth, farmers, and women the most and pointed to the electorate's growing skepticism towards Congress, as reflected in election results. Modi highlighted the decline in development and financial health in states under Congress rule, framing it as indicative of the party's inability to deliver on its promises.