NEW DELHI: The Independence Day speech delivered by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come under criticism from the Congress party, which accuses him of presenting a politically biased narrative and ignoring critical issues during his government’s tenure.
Congress Communications Chief Jairam Ramesh condemned the speech for its alleged inaccuracies and termed it a crass election address riddled with “distortions, lies, exaggerations, and vague promises,” as reported by Maktoob Media.
One of the key points of contention raised by the Congress spokesperson is the Prime Minister’s handling of the ongoing turmoil in Manipur. Ramesh accused Modi of insensitivity in his comparison of Manipur’s situation with other parts of the country. The Congress party argued that this approach belittles the significant challenges faced by the region. Ramesh criticized Modi for failing to express sorrow or acknowledge the failures that have turned Manipur into a war zone, particularly in light of the reported atrocities against women.
Congress Challenges Modi’s Claims
Furthermore, Ramesh highlighted the absence of acknowledgment for the significant death toll resulting from India’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite Modi’s praise for India’s pandemic management, Ramesh pointed out that India has the highest COVID-related fatalities globally, according to the World Health Organization. Ramesh attributed this grim outcome to issues such as oxygen shortages and vaccine procurement.
The Congress spokesperson also challenged the Prime Minister’s claims of enhanced border security, pointing to the ongoing Chinese occupation of Indian territory. Ramesh disputed Modi’s assertion of no border incursions and cited evidence to the contrary.
Economic matters also drew criticism from the Congress party, which accused the government of favoring a few corporations and exacerbating income inequality. Ramesh highlighted the concentration of economic power within select corporations, which he claimed has led to price inflation and inequality. He stated, “the only ‘transformation’ has been in the concentration of economic power in select Modi-made Monopolies (3M) that is exacerbating price rise and ensuring record inequality. Especially, the PM’s direct role in directing deals and government revenues towards his most favored business group.”
