NEW DELHI: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing nine years in office, the Congress on Friday, he asked him nine questions on issues such as rising prices, unemployment and farmers’ incomes, and demanded an apology for “betrayal” during his tenure.
The opposition party also said that the government should celebrate this day as ‘Maafi Diwas’.
Former Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had raised critical issues during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the nine questions are based on this, the party’s secretary general in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh at a news conference at the India Congress Committee headquarters.
Ramesh, who was joined by party leaders Pawan Khera and Supriya Shrinate, also issued a brochure “Nau saal, Nau sawaal” and said Modi he became prime minister on this day nine years ago and so the party wants to ask him nine questions.
“We want the prime minister to break his silence on these nine questions,” Ramesh said.
Questioning the prime minister, he asked, “Why is inflation and unemployment skyrocketing in India? Why have the rich got richer and the poor got poorer? Why is public property being sold to Prime Minister Modi’s friends, even whether economic inequalities are increasing?”
Ramesh also asked why the agreements made with farmers while repealing the three “black” agriculture laws were not honoured, and why the minimum support price was not legally guaranteed. Why hasn’t farmers’ income doubled in the past nine years, he asked.
Accusing the government of indulging in corruption and cronyism, Ramesh asked why the PM is risking the hard-earned savings of people in LIC and SBI for the benefit of his “friend” Adani.
“Why do you let the thieves escape? Why do you keep silent about the rampant corruption in the BJP-ruled states, and why do you let the Indians suffer,” he asked.
On the issue of national security, Ramesh said Congress wants to ask “why even after your clean statement to China in 2020, they continue to occupy Indian territory.”
He also questioned why “hate politics” was being deliberately used for electoral gains and said that an atmosphere of fear was being fostered in society.
“Why are you silent on the atrocities against women, dalits, SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities? Why are you ignoring the call for a caste census,” Ramesh said in another poser.
He also questioned the government about democracy and federalism, arguing that it has “weakened” our constitutional values and democratic institutions over the past nine years.
Khera said the promises made by the government over the past nine years were detached from reality.
“So when we ask for answers, don’t take us back 900 years. Everyone wants to know what you have been doing for the past nine years… We would like to urge you (the prime minister) to apologize at events over the next five days for the betrayal of the country for the past nine years,” he said.
Ramesh asked, “Why are you practicing a policy of revenge against opposition parties and leaders and why are you using the manifest power of money to destabilize popularly elected governments?”
He said the government had “undermined” welfare programs for the poor, needy and tribal people by cutting their budgets and setting restrictive rules.
“Why despite the tragic deaths of more than 40 lakh people from COVID-19, has the Modi government refused to compensate their families? support?” Ramesh asked.
The opposition party also said that the government should celebrate this day as ‘Maafi Diwas’.
Former Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had raised critical issues during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the nine questions are based on this, the party’s secretary general in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh at a news conference at the India Congress Committee headquarters.
Ramesh, who was joined by party leaders Pawan Khera and Supriya Shrinate, also issued a brochure “Nau saal, Nau sawaal” and said Modi he became prime minister on this day nine years ago and so the party wants to ask him nine questions.
“We want the prime minister to break his silence on these nine questions,” Ramesh said.
Questioning the prime minister, he asked, “Why is inflation and unemployment skyrocketing in India? Why have the rich got richer and the poor got poorer? Why is public property being sold to Prime Minister Modi’s friends, even whether economic inequalities are increasing?”
Ramesh also asked why the agreements made with farmers while repealing the three “black” agriculture laws were not honoured, and why the minimum support price was not legally guaranteed. Why hasn’t farmers’ income doubled in the past nine years, he asked.
Accusing the government of indulging in corruption and cronyism, Ramesh asked why the PM is risking the hard-earned savings of people in LIC and SBI for the benefit of his “friend” Adani.
“Why do you let the thieves escape? Why do you keep silent about the rampant corruption in the BJP-ruled states, and why do you let the Indians suffer,” he asked.
On the issue of national security, Ramesh said Congress wants to ask “why even after your clean statement to China in 2020, they continue to occupy Indian territory.”
He also questioned why “hate politics” was being deliberately used for electoral gains and said that an atmosphere of fear was being fostered in society.
“Why are you silent on the atrocities against women, dalits, SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities? Why are you ignoring the call for a caste census,” Ramesh said in another poser.
He also questioned the government about democracy and federalism, arguing that it has “weakened” our constitutional values and democratic institutions over the past nine years.
Khera said the promises made by the government over the past nine years were detached from reality.
“So when we ask for answers, don’t take us back 900 years. Everyone wants to know what you have been doing for the past nine years… We would like to urge you (the prime minister) to apologize at events over the next five days for the betrayal of the country for the past nine years,” he said.
Ramesh asked, “Why are you practicing a policy of revenge against opposition parties and leaders and why are you using the manifest power of money to destabilize popularly elected governments?”
He said the government had “undermined” welfare programs for the poor, needy and tribal people by cutting their budgets and setting restrictive rules.
“Why despite the tragic deaths of more than 40 lakh people from COVID-19, has the Modi government refused to compensate their families? support?” Ramesh asked.
