Period marked by misery, misgovernance: Congress on BJP govt's anniversary

What was once the fastest growing economy, is now in turmoil thanks to the BJP's 8 years of misgovernance, Congress alleged

With Narendra Modi completing eight years in power as Prime Minister, Congress on Thursday accused the BJP-led Union Government of showering misery on people through price rises, joblessness and polarisation.

Senior Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala and Ajay Maken alleged that the "acche din" slogan coined by Modi actually turned out to be "ache din" not for the citizens of the country but for the BJP, which increased its income, and a select group of crony capitalists whose wealth sky-rocketed.

At a press conference, the leaders released a booklet in Hindi "8 Saal, 8 Chhaal, BJP Sarkar Viphal" (8 years, 8 deceits, BJP government failed) on the "failures" of the country on price rise, employment, economy, agriculture, security personnel, national security and marginalised sections as well as efforts on communal polarisation.

"We cannot pinpoint one of them as the greatest failure. You cannot say that joblessness is the main failure rather than price rise or vice versa. All are monumental failures," Maken said. Surjewala called "ache din" a "flop film", which is "full of lies and jumla".

“BJP means price rise. The Wholesale Price Index is at its highest in 30 years. The Consumer Price Index has risen to 7.81%,” he said.

Alleging that the BJP's policies contributed to the fall of the Indian economy, Maken said what was once a growing economy has collapsed now because of eight years of misgovernance. He referred to the rising inflation and the drop in the growth rate.

Maken alleged that the BJP was garnering votes in the name of soldiers but did not even recognise their services by giving them One Rank, One Pension (OROP). He also claimed that 10,000 cases of communal clashes have taken place during the last eight years of the Modi government as part of the latter's polarisation plan.

Surjewala said that the people have witnessed the country facing continuous threats to the sovereignty and security of India during the last eight years and referred to the standoff between China and India. "What happened to the PM's 56-inch chest and 'laal ankh' (red eyes)?" he asked.

"While high prices are upsetting the budgets of common people on the one hand, on the other communal fires are flaring and the BJP is trying to benefit politically from it," he said.