 "Narendra Modi")
Terming the Narendra Modi rule as "anti-farmer, anti-women and anti-Dalit," the Congress today said people are left bewildered as the government is acting like an event manager while there is systematic attack on the country's institutions and democratic fabric.
"Narendra Modi has emerged as a good event manager and his government reduced to an event management team. Rs 27 lakh is spent daily on events to mislead people," All India Mahila Congress President Sobha Ojha told reporters while briefing on two-years of the NDA government at the Centre.
Stating that the economy was pushed downward, Ojha said job growth, industrial output and exports were sliding, while inflation, rural distress, drought and low farm incomes were making life miserable for farmers and farm labourers.
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In 2014, people gave Modi a sweeping mandate, but by 2016 they were left disillusioned, bewildered and confused, she said, adding "Instead of the promised 'Achche Din', they are witnessing a systematic attack on India's institutions, icons and inclusiveness."
Ojha, who also released a booklet 'Sachhai Ka Aaina' on the BJP-led NDA government's performance, accused Modi regime of being "anti-farmer, anti-women, anti-youth, anti-Dalit and anti-tribal" and claimed that over 2,900 distressed farmers were forced to commit suicide in the country in 2015.
Stating that farmers and rural India paid the heaviest price for electing BJP, which was marked by insensitivity and callousness, the Congress leader said foodgrain production has declined from 265 lakh MT in 2013-14 (UPA rule) to about 253 lakh MT in 2015-16.
The BJP, which had promised before last elections that minimum Support Price (MSP) would be determined at cost of production along with 50 per cent profit, has taken a 'U' turn after coming to power, she alleged.
The Modi government had announced that 50 additional days of employment would be offered under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) over the mandated 100 days in drought-affected regions. In reality, not even 50 days of employment were being offered, Ojha said.
Claiming that investor confidence in India was low and forecast was gloomy, she said the country was gifted windfall due to low crude oil prices, but instead of using the savings to boost the economy, government chose to fill its coffers by increasing excise duties and indirect taxes.
"Democracy has been shamelessly subverted. Instead of cooperative federalism, Modi government dismissed elected governments in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh," she said.
Claiming that foreign diplomacy also failed, Ojha said important nations like Russia and USA were reaching out with open arms to Pakistan, while relations with Nepal were at an all time low.
"China brazenly counters India on the international fora, while Pakistan makes the Modi government dance a dizzying spiral of U-turns," she said.
Referring to unemployment, Ojha said Modi had promised to provide two crore jobs every year, but only 1,34,000 jobs have been created as per official data of the Labour Ministry.
There was actually a decline of 20,000 jobs in eight key industrial sectors between October and December, 2015, which was the slowest pace of job creation since 2009, the Congress leader claimed.
On inflation, Ojha said in 2015, prices of vegetables and pulses shot up like never before and Tur/Arhar Dal continue to sell at around Rs 200 per kg.
The pre-poll promise of Modi to bring back the black money estimated at Rs 80 lakh crore within 100 days and deposit Rs 15 to Rs 20 lakh in every Indian's bank account was perhaps one of his biggest 'jumlas', she said.
On corruption, Ojha said while notorious bank loan defaulters were allowed to flee the country, BJP ruled states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Chhattisagarh were rocked by multi-crore scams.
Stating that safety for women under the Modi government remains an illusion, she said though safety of women was a major poll plank for BJP, it seems to be forgotten like many other tall promises made by the party.
The Congress leader also came down heavily on the BJD government in Odisha dubbing it as the "B" team of BJP that was marked by mis-governance and corruption.
