Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Credit: PTI File Photo
New Delhi: On the last day of 2023, Congress on Sunday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge claiming that "BJP's lies are the strongest" citing its promises on doubling farmers' income among others.
In a post on X, Kharge said, "Narendra Modi-ji, today is the last day of 2023. You said that by 2022 every farmer's income will double, every Indian will have a house and 24x7 electricity, The economy will become USD five trillion. All this did not happen but every Indian knows that BJP's lies are the strongest!"
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi targeted Modi over wrestlers' protest and the "support" for former Wrestling Association chief Brijbhusan Singh, also a BJP MP, while referring to the returning of Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards by Olympian Vinesh Phogat.
"For every daughter of the country, self-respect comes first, any other medal or honour comes after that. Does the price of 'political benefits' received from a 'proclaimed Bahubali' exceed the tears of these brave daughters? The Prime Minister is the guardian of the nation, it hurts to see such cruelty on his part," Rahul said on X.
Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh criticised the government for the delay in conducting the decennial census, which was due in 2021.
Referring to reports about further delay in starting the exercise till October 2024, he said, "The inordinate delay in conducting the decennial census last due for 2021 raises several questions. It is not just related to the Covid pandemic. Undoubtedly there is something brewing."
Congress Media and Publicity Department Chairperson Pawan Khera found fault with the delay in arresting BJP leaders accused of rape in Varanasi, Modi's constituency.
"If a girl student is gang-raped in the Prime Minister's own parliamentary constituency and if the rapist is a BJP leader, it takes 60 days for the police to arrest him and still the media continues to praise him (Prime Minister), then will questions not be raised on the media?"
In another post on X, he named nine politicians as "beneficiaries" of "Prime Minister's Criminals/Accused Protection Scheme" this year and said, "Other rape, murder and corruption accused could avail of the benefits of the scheme till April 2024".
He mentioned Brijbhushan Singh, Chhagan Bhujbal, Ashish Mishra Teni, Ajit Pawar, Renu Bisht, Aswajit Gaikwad, Kamal Rawat, Krunal Pandey and Saksham Patel as the beneficiaries of such a scheme.