Congress hits out at Modi government, says 'wrong policies have pushed youth into dark road'

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge sharply criticized the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government on Saturday, accusing it of crushing the aspirations of the nation's youth and pushing them toward protests through its "wrong policies."

Speaking after Modi's Independence Day address, Kharge asserted that peaceful protest is a constitutional right and students demanding their rights should not be labeled anti-national. "The government's wrong policies have pushed the youth into a dark road," he stated, adding that the government "had neither the funds nor the ideas for schemes that drive the nation forward."

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The government’s wrong policies have pushed the youth into a dark road.

Kharge questioned why Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had not addressed opposition concerns regarding police actions against students during protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. He recounted raising these issues with Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, but noted the Prime Minister and Home Minister's absence from parliamentary discussions on the matter. Kharge challenged Shah's justification for not being in the House, asking if the public elected him to merely observe from his chamber.

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Did the public send you to sit in your chamber?

The Congress president also accused the ruling party of appropriating credit for developmental work initiated during previous Congress governments, claiming the Congress party's contribution to national development stands at 90%. He contrasted this with the current government's alleged lack of significant new initiatives, citing the Congress's introduction of rights-based legislation like the Right to Food, Right to Education, and Right to Work.

Further allegations included concerns over the handling of alleged theft of offerings at an Ayodhya temple, with Kharge pointing out the temple trust's appointment by the Prime Minister. He also claimed government interference in key institutions such as the Election Commission, Enforcement Directorate, and CBI, and alleged the appointment of RSS-aligned individuals to prominent educational and research organizations like ISRO and DRDO.

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The development you see in the country today is because of Congress. Congress has 90% contribution in development you witnessed in the country today.