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10 Saal Anyay Kaal: Congress releases ‘black paper’ on Modi government’s ‘failures’, PM reacts

The "black paper" highlights issues such as "unemployment, price rise, farmers' distress, and failure to carry out a caste census".

South First Desk

Published Feb 08, 2024 | 3:02 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 08, 2024 | 3:02 PM

AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge. (Screengrab)

AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge. (Screengrab)

The Congress, on Thursday, 8 February, released a “black paper” to highlight the “failures” of the Modi government, flagging issues such as unemployment, price rise, and “farmers’ distress”.

The release of the “black paper” titled “10 Saal Anyay Kaal” by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge comes ahead of the government’s tabling in Parliament of a white paper on the “mismanagement” of the economy before 2014, intending to draw lessons.

The “black paper” highlights issues such as “unemployment, price rise, farmers’ distress, failure to carry out a caste census, and injustice to women”.

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge said that he talks of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi when asked about price rise, however, “they are ruling now, so they should answer for what they have done”.

“It was Modi’s guarantee to provide 2 crore jobs and ensure MSP to farmers, and now the Prime Minister should say that he could not do it. Instead, he has come up with new guarantees,” Kharge said while releasing the “black paper”.

Kharge said that the Congress ensured India’s independence and in 2024, it will take the country out of the BJP’s “darkness of injustice”.

Also Read: CM Siddaramaiah leads protest against fiscal injustice in Delhi

Modi reacts

In a sarcastic jibe at the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge for coming out with a “black paper” against his government and referred to it as “kaala teeka” (to ward off the evil eye) in the midst of good work being done by his government.

The Prime Minister also referred to black robes worn by opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha as a mark of protest and said, “We also saw a fashion parade in the Rajya Sabha when some members came in black clothes.”

Bidding farewell to members retiring from the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded the contribution of his predecessor Manmohan Singh to the House.

Manmohan Singh came to vote in the Rajya Sabha on a wheelchair to help strengthen democracy, Modi said.

He gave his best wishes to all retiring members expressed the hope that that new generations will benefit from their experience.

Also Read: Kharge slams Union government for interfering in governance of states

10 Saal Anyay Kaal

“The Modi government’s 10 years in power have devastated the country’s economy, aggravated employment, destroyed the country’s agricultural sector, abetted crimes against women and committed grave injustices against minorities in the country.” — This is the first sentences written in the “black paper”.

The list of “failures” are divided into three “anyay” (injustices) — Aarthik Anyay (economic injustice), Samajik Anyay (social injustice), and Rajneetik Anyay (political injustice).

Under Aarthik Anyay, the Congress has listed the following “failures” of the Modi government:

  • Rampant unemployment – referring to the unemployment rate over the last 10 years
  • Economic blunders – referring to the soaring prices of essential commodities
  • Distressed farmers – referring to the three farm laws that many farmers “died fighting against”
  • Workers abandoned – referring to the poor growth of wages of rural workers
  • Modani Raj – referring to the Modi-Adani controversy

Under the Samajik Anyay, the Congress has listed the following “failures” of the Modi government:

  • SCs, STs and OBCs betrayed – referring to the government’s “refusal” to hold a caste census
  • Injustice against women – referring to the “abysmal” conviction rate in rape cases
  • Social disharmony – referring to the spread of hate and violence along caste and religious lines

Under the Rajneetik Anyay, the Congress has listed the following “failures” of the Modi government:

  • Institutions’ subversion – referring to increase in investigations against Opposition by ED, CBI
  • National security compromised – referring to incidents of national security under Modi’s governance

(With PTI inputs)

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