Inflation, unemployment missing from BJP manifesto, says Congress

BJP’s promises to create 2 crore jobs annually, double farmers’ income, and tackle inflation not fulfilled, says Congress; accuses BJP of now shifting goalposts by listing 2047 targets

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a public meeting at Sakoli in Maharashtra on April 13, 2024. Photo: X/@INCIndia via ANIi

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) manifesto should be called a maafinama (document of apology) instead of being called a sankalp patra (manifesto), the Congress said on Sunday, recalling the BJP’s “unfulfilled promises” during its previous two terms in power.

“Two words are missing from the BJP’s manifesto and Narendra Modi’s speech — inflation and unemployment,” former Congress chief Rahul Ggandhi said in a post on X. “INDIA’s plan is very clear — recruitment in 30 lakh posts and a permanent job of ₹1 lakh to every educated youngster. This time the youngsters are not going to fall into Modi’s trap. They will strengthen the hands of the Congress and bring an ‘employment revolution’ in the country,” he added.

The principal Opposition party alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not honour his previous promises to create two crore jobs annually, to double farmers’ income, and to tackle inflation, and accused him of now shifting the goalposts by talking about 2047.

‘Failed promises’

“The BJP’s Modifesto is 76 pages long. It has 53 photos of the Camerajeevi. It is a farewell memento to the man who in the past ten years has distorted, damaged, denied, diverted, denigrated, and defamed,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, in a post on X.

Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, “We have strong objections to the name of the BJP’s sankalp patra. It should be called maafinama instead. Modi should have apologised to the Dalits, farmers, youngsters, and tribals.”

He alleged that the Prime Minister had promised to bring back black money by forming a special task force, but had instead introduced electoral bonds; he talked of strengthening law and order in the northeast, but instead, violence continues unabated in Manipur. Instead of 100 new smart cities being built in the country, China is building “smart villages” along the border, Mr. Khera added.

‘Don’t politicise Ram’

Asked about the Ram temple issue, the Congress spokesperson said, “Ram is an issue of faith and not of politics. We will not allow the BJP to drag him into politics.”

On the ‘One nation, one election’ proposal to hold simultaneous State and national elections, Mr. Khera asked how the BJP could talk about one election when the upcoming Lok Sabha polls are to be held in seven phases in many States. “Modi ji is used to giving slogans. One nation, one mistake, and that is Narendra Modi,” He added.

‘Hollow claims’

Drawing comparisons with their own processes, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said that the Congress had set up its manifesto committee in December last year and collected suggestions from a cross-section of people, while the BJP’s manifesto panel was set up only 13 days ago.

“After ruling for 10 years, Modi has started fooling people. The claim that 25 crore people were taken out of poverty is hollow, and no third party has confirmed it. The truth is that two farmers and two youngsters commit suicide in the country every hour,” Ms. Shrinate said.