Accuses Centre of impinging on rights of states
Opposition parties Wednesday launched a blistering attack on the government in Rajya Sabha, alleging it has failed to control prices of essential commodities, provide jobs and meet its target of doubling farmers’ income.
They also accused the Centre of transgressing into the rights of the states and impinging on the federal structure of the country, as they opposed the proposed changes in All-India Services cadre rules and the decision to extend the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force to 50 kilometers in states bordering Bangladesh and Pakistan
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, charged the government with not delivering on its various promises, including generating two crore jobs per year.
In the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spent over an hour in the Upper House, Kharge also alleged that the government has failed when it came to controlling price increase of essential commodities like petroleum products and daily food items. The Centre was only giving lectures and not delivering on the ground when it came to reforms and welfare measures, he charged.
“Your work is less but publicity is more. You (government) keep on saying one lie after another… whenever your political opponent points out to your follies, you say that religion is in danger. There is a lack of employment opportunities because investment is not coming, factories are closing down…where are the good days?” Kharge said.
The Congress leader, who spoke for over an hour, claimed that while the BJP was dismissive of the various welfare schemes like MNREGA, it was this programme that proved to be a boon for migrants during the COVID pandemic.
He also claimed that many government programmes like Make in India have not yielded the desired results. “In every field, whether its economy, make-in-India, self-reliance, China Policy — all things which you have said, all are failing one by one,” he alleged. Speaking on the MNREGA scheme, Kharge said that when it was launched Prime Minister Modi had termed it as “Vifalta ka samarak (monument to failure)”.
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva criticised the proposed amendments in all-India services cadre rules, which give greater say to the Centre, alleging that “this is again transgressing into the rights of the states”. Trinamool Congress MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said the government issued a “fatwa” to make amendment in the rules which is an arbitrary and a veiled attempt to centralise executive powers of the states – a decision which has been opposed by nine chief ministers as well as over 100 retired IAS, IFS, etc.
Two Indias created, one for rich and one for poor: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the Centre alleging that two Indias, one for the rich and one for the poor, have been created and the gap between them was widening.
Speaking first from the Opposition side in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, he said the address to a joint sitting of Parliament didn’t touch the central challenges facing the country and was a “list of bureaucratic ideas” instead of a strategic vision.
The presidential address made no mention of unemployment, the Congress leader claimed.
There are two Indias — one for the rich, one for the poor — and the gap between the two was widening, Gandhi alleged and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to start working towards bringing the two Indias, created by this government, together. He claimed that 40% of India’s wealth has gone to a chosen few.
Today, the earnings of 84% of Indians have dwindled, pushing them towards poverty, Gandhi said.
‘Make in India’ cannot happen as the unorganised sector has been completely destroyed, he alleged.