Congress to mark Modi govt’s anniversary with ‘betrayal cry’

Congress leaders will hit the streets with cries of 'betrayal' on Saturday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrates the fourth anniversary of his government.

Congress leaders will hold protest meetings in every state capital and district headquarters to highlight the reported failure of the Modi government.

Senior Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot and Randeep Singh Surjewala unveiled the theme poster for the nation-wide protests that read 'India Betrayed — for four years only talk'.

“People had huge expectations from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, promises were made and people believed in the government. However, the government betrayed the people every year,” Gehlot told reporters here.

Gehlot said there was an atmosphere of mistrust, fear and violence prevailing across the country.

“Every section of the society is disturbed. The farmers are disturbed, the youth is disturbed, the business class is disturbed. Everybody feels betrayed,” he said.

'443% increase'

“Instead of slashing taxes, this government is looting money. There has been a 443% increase in the excise duty on petroleum products between May 2014 and May 2018,” Randeep Singh Surjewala, in-charge of the AICC communications department said.

Surjewala hit out at Minister of Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla's remarks blaming the fuel price hike on foreign companies selling petroleum products.

“The minister should get his facts right. The high price is not charged by foreign companies, but by the Modi government which is looting the people,” he said.

Gehlot also accused the Modi government of wasting taxpayers money on illogical celebrations to mark the anniversaries of government formation.

“They forget that when we become CM or PM, we become the trustee of people’s money. We have no right to waste it,” Gehlot said.