The Congress on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on the occasion of its 11 years in office, accusing it of inflicting a “deep blow” to Indian democracy, economy, and the country’s social fabric. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at the party's 'Samvidhan Bachao’ rally in Ranchi last week. (PTI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) weakened constitutional institutions and undermined federalism.
“In the last 11 years, the Modi government has caused a deep blow to Indian democracy, economy and social fabric. The BJP-RSS has weakened every Constitutional institution and attacked their autonomy. Whether it is stealing public opinion and toppling governments through the back door, or forcibly imposing a one-party dictatorship.
During this period, the rights of the states have been ignored and the federal structure has weakened,” Kharge wrote on X (formerly Twitter). As the BJP marked 11 years of governance at the Centre, PM Modi highlighted the achievements of his government, crediting it with people-centric, inclusive progress. “From economic growth to social upliftment, the focus has been on people-centric, inclusive and all-round progress.
India today is not just the fastest-growing major economy, but also a key global voice on pressing issues like climate action and digital innovation,” he said. Union home minister Amit Shah echoed similar sentiments, calling the last 11 years a “golden period” of public service. “In Modi 3.0, New India is rapidly progressing towards development and self-reliance with the power of reform, perform and transform.
This journey of making India number 1 in every field by bringing positive changes in the lives of the countrymen will continue like this,” Shah said. Countering the government’s narrative, Kharge pointed to what he called a rise in hate and fear in society, citing the prolonged violence in Manipur. “Efforts are constantly being made to spread an environment of hatred, threats and fear in the society.
The exploitation of Dalits, tribals, backwards classes, minorities and weaker sections has increased continuously. The conspiracy to deprive them of reservation and equal rights continues,” he said. Kharge also criticised the government’s economic policies.
“The BJP-RSS has made the country’s GDP growth rate habitual of 5-6%, which used to be 8% on average during the UPA. Instead of the promise of 2 crore jobs annually, crores of jobs were snatched away from the youth. Due to inflation, public savings have become the lowest in 50 years and economic inequality has become the highest in 100 years,” he said.
“Make in India, Startup India, Stand up India, Digital India, Namami Gange, 100 SMART Cities, all have failed. Railways have been ruined. Only the ribbons of the infrastructure, painstakingly built by Congress-UPA, have been cut,” Kharge claimed.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, accused the government of abandoning real-time accountability. Referring to a tragic incident in Mumbai where passengers died falling off an overcrowded local train, Gandhi accused the government of ignoring public concerns. “While the Modi Government is celebrating 11 years of ‘service’, the reality of the country is reflected in the tragic news coming from Mumbai – several people died after falling from a train.
Indian Railways is the backbone of the lives of crores of people, but today it has become a symbol of insecurity, congestion and chaos. 11 years of the Modi government = no accountability, no change, only propaganda,” he wrote on X. At a press conference at the Congress headquarters in Delhi, the party’s research department head Rajeev Gowda presented data highlighting what the Congress called systemic failures under Modi’s leadership.
Responding to the government’s claims on welfare schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, Gowda pointed to India’s position at 105 out of 127 countries in the Global Hunger Index. “Nearly a third of our children are suffering from malnutrition in this day and age, when they talk about Viksit Bharat. Let us remind the Prime Minister that he has a duty to our children and their futures,” Gowda said.
Gowda also criticised the government for its handling of the education and defence sectors, claiming over 300 of the 700-plus Eklavya schools are non-functional and citing delays in 23 of 55 DRDO projects. To support its arguments, the Congress released two documents aiming to counter the BJP’s report card and election manifesto. “We have two sets of documents: ‘Ek Aur Baar Jumla Sarkar’, which basically looks at the promises made by the BJP in their 2024 manifesto, plus other kinds of promises and statements they have been making in the last year.
The other one, ‘11 Saal Jhoote Vikaas Ke Vaade’, is a detailed exposé of the hollow promises and track record of the false statements that the BJP’s just-released report card highlighted,” Gowda said. Furthering the charges, Congress leader Mahima Singh raised concerns about the methodology used in surveys conducted by the BJP, claiming it presents misleading statistics. “The BJP reported an increase in the country’s sex ratio to 1,020 females for every 1,000 males.
However, experts have questioned the accuracy of this figure, citing discrepancies in the survey’s methodology, including issues with the questionnaire used,” she said.
