PM Modi Takes Jab At Congress Over 'Fake' Poll Promises, Calls It 'Terrible Deceit Upon People'

Drawing on recent comments by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge regarding electoral promises, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed on Friday that the opposition party is "realising the hard way that making unrealistic promises is easy, but implementing them properly is difficult or impossible."

Modi urged people to be "vigilant" against what he described as Congress' "culture of fake promises."

Photo Credit: PTI

"Campaign after campaign, they (Congress) promise things to people, which they also know they will never be able to deliver. Now, they stand badly exposed in front of people," Modi said in a series of posts on X, using the hashtag #FakePromisesOfCongress.

Kharge, referencing Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's acknowledgment of issues in sustaining a key scheme, had emphasised the importance of fiscal caution when making promises.

The Congress president warned that an unplanned approach could lead to financial strain and negatively affect future generations. He stressed the need for fiscal responsibility, adding that if the government fails to deliver on commitments, it could harm its reputation and impact the community.

BJP, which has criticised Congress and other rivals for making "irresponsible promises," viewed Kharge's remark as validation of its stance.

"Look at any state where Congress is in power today - Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana - the trajectory of development and fiscal health is worsening," PM Modi said, broadening his critique to include Rahul Gandhi's "khata khat" promises.

"Their so-called guarantees lie unfulfilled, which is a terrible deceit upon the people of these states. Those who suffer from such politics are the poor, youth, farmers, and women, who are not only deprived of the promised benefits but also see existing schemes diluted," Modi added, his remarks intensifying the political rivalry ahead of the key Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections.

Kharge responded by accusing Modi of failing to fulfil numerous promises himself. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also stepped in to affirm his government's commitment to implementing its five guarantees.

However, Siddaramaiah's response fuelled perceptions of a growing divide between him and his deputy, with Modi implying that the people and the state are suffering from ongoing conflicts between Congress leaders.

In a veiled reference to the rift within Karnataka Congress, Modi said the party is more focused on internal politics and "loot" than on delivering development.

"Not only that, they are also planning to roll back existing schemes," he added.

Modi further remarked that even in Himachal Pradesh, government employees were not receiving their salaries on time, while farmers in Telangana were still awaiting the promised loan waivers. He urged people to be vigilant against Congress's "culture of fake promises."

"We recently saw how people in Haryana rejected their lies and preferred a government that is stable, progress-oriented, and action-driven. Across India, there is a growing realisation that a vote for Congress is a vote for non-governance, poor economics, and unparalleled corruption. The people of India want development and progress, not the same old," he added.

Earlier, BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad sarcastically asked whether Kharge had shared his first piece of "wisdom" with Rahul Gandhi, noting that the former Congress President often boasted about the "khata khat" (immediate) transfer of funds to different segments of the population if his party were elected.