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The Congress seems to be mocking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s general-election slogan, Abki baar, Modi Sarkar (This time round, Narendra Modi government). It has released a booklet on the central government’s performance in its first six months. Its title: Chhe Maheene Paar, U-Turn Sarkar (Six months through, the government does a U-turn).
Accusing the 180-day government of having gone back on 25 of its election promises, the Congress has demanded accountability, claiming the BJP has indulged in “white lie” to come to power.
The Congress’ communication chief, Ajay Maken, said: “This government came to power by making ‘false promises and baseless allegations. However, six months later, the Modi government stands out for three simple characteristics — U-turn on promises, re-naming of and plagiarising the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) programmes, and schemes and decisions that involve selling out public/national interests for the benefit of friendly corporate houses.”
Maken accused the government of making U-turns on every issue — from unaccounted (black) money to agreeing on a land-swap deal with Bangladesh, an issue on which the BJP, then in Opposition, had stonewalled UPA’s efforts. Maken said: “As Opposition, the BJP’s only role had been opposing for the sake of opposing and politicising issues. Now, the contradiction comes. It sees the same plans as beneficial for the country.”
In its booklet, the Congress put together speeches, tweets and statements of BJP leaders like Modi, Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh and juxtaposed those with their present stand on issues, to reveal there were U-turns. Highlighting his tweets through screenshots, the Congress held up for scrutiny Modi’s “doublespeak” on issues like Chinese incursions.
From criticising the UPA-led government at the Centre for inaction, Modi had tweeted on August 5, 2013: “When will the Centre wake up?” On this, Maken listed the repeated incursions during the present Modi regime, the most daring when the Chinese premier was visiting India and the Chinese soldiers had moved into the Indian territory. Maken said: “Modiji, please wake up.” He recalled the Vajpayee government was named rollback sarkar.
Citing instances from issues such as black money, India-Pakistan relations, the Insurance Bill, the disclosure of the Henderson Brooks–Bhagat Report on the 1962 war, the Comptroller & Auditor General, the rail fare rise, the increase in the minimum support price for farmers, the cleansing Parliament of criminals, the diesel de-regulation, the Article 370 and holding Delhi elections, the Congress said the BJP story was an account of lies and deception.
BJP had routinely indulged in political double speak even after coming to power — it first called the NCP a Nationally Corrupt Party and then accepted its support in Maharashtra; it also went back on its stand on separatists in the Valley for electoral gains — the Congress alleged.
Eminent lawyers in BJP, such as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, drew special criticism from the Congress. It said Jaitley attacked UPA in his blog post when arguing on issues like his demand for making the Henderson Brooks report public, but he claimed it “would not be in national interest” soon after assuming office. Subsequently, he deleted the earlier blog post. Congress highlighted how BJP leaders were changing their stand in true ‘lawyer’ style. Jaitley had in his election campaigns also promised to raise the income-tax ceiling to Rs five lakh but raised it to only Rs 2.5 lakh on becoming the finance minister.
Maken warned that the BJP government should not forget promises it had made to people before coming to power.
