Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, May 26: Demanding that the BJP should declare the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government at the centre as “Maafi Diwas” for its “failure” to honour the promises made to the people, the Congress on Friday released a booklet “Nau saal, Nau sawaal (Nine years, nine questions) raising questions on its performance.
Stating that Modi should ‘apologise for betraying’ the mandate of the people, the Congress posed one question for each completed year. The questions ranged on issues from rising prices, unemployment, national security like the face-off with China to issues such as social harmony and federalism. Over the next three days, party leaders, including seniors like P Chidambaram, Anand Sharma and Manish Tewari, would be holding press conferences across 35 places.
Using the hashtag #NaakamiKe9Saal, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took to Twitter and said, “In last 9 years, the Modi government has become a “Vishwaguru” in snatching away employment of crores of youths.”
“The BJP built its edifice in 9 years on false promises and people’s suffering. Inflation, hatred and unemployment – Prime Minister ji, take responsibility of these failures of yours,” former party chief Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi and shared the nine questions to the Prime minister.
In a joint press conference with Pawan Khera and Supriya Shrinate, party general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said the booklet contains all the key issue that the party as well as Rahul Gandhi has raised during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
While Ms. Shrinate talked about how the economic situation had worsened in the past nine years, Kehra said, “Today, Mr Modi should be celebrating as maafi divas [day to seek forgiveness] for betraying the people’s aspiration.” “Why is it that inflation and unemployment are skyrocketing in India? Why have the rich become richer and the poor poorer? Why is public property being sold to Modi’s friends, even as economic disparities are increasing?” Ramesh asked.
He accused the BJP of deliberately practising “politics of hatred” for electoral gains and alleged that an atmosphere of fear in society was being fuelled. “Why is the BJP indulging in politics of vendetta against its political opponents and playing politics of divisiveness and hatred for its own political gains? Why are you silent on the atrocities against women, Dalits, SC, ST, OBCs and minorities? Why are you ignoring the demand for a caste census,” Ramesh asked.
He claimed that Prime Minister’s comment on 19 June 2020 that “none had entered into Indian territory” was a like giving a “clean chit” to China that weakened India’s negotiating position. “We want the prime minister to break his silence on these nine questions…,” he said, adding that Modi speaks “He speaks when he needs to be silent and prefers to remain silent when he needs to speak up,” the Congress leader said, adding, “We want the prime minister to break his silence on these nine questions…”
Asked to spell out what the Congress thought was a success of the Modi government, Ramesh said, “The government has done very well rebranding the UPA government schemes. So Nirmal Bharat became Swach Bharat Abhiyan and so on. The Pradhan Mantri has become the ‘prachar mantri’ by working hard on doing branding and marketing of such programmes.”
On the issue of national security, Jairam Ramesh said the Congress wants to ask “Why is it that even after your clean chit to China in 2020, they continue to occupy Indian territory.” He also asked why deliberate “politics of hatred” for electoral gains were being used, and alleged that an atmosphere of fear in society was being fuelled.
“So when we demand answers, don’t take us 900 years back. Everyone wants to know what you did in the last nine years ….We would urge you (prime minister) to apologise during the events being held in the next five days for the betrayal of the country in the last nine years,” he said.
He alleged that the government had “weakened” the schemes for the welfare of the poor, needy and tribals by cutting their budgets and making restrictive rules. “Why is it that despite the tragic deaths of over 40 lakh people due to COVID-19, the Modi government has refused to compensate their families? Why did you suddenly impose a lockdown which forced lakhs of workers to return home, and not provide any support?” Ramesh asked.