PM Modi never calls for peace, says Congress

Tribune News Service

Shubhadeep Choudhury   

New Delhi, May 26

“He (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) never calls for peace and harmony in India”, Opposition Congress party today noted.

A booklet published by the party entitled “Nau Saal, Nau Sawal” said that at times of  social unrest, it is crucial for leaders to play a unifying role by promoting dialogue, understanding and reconciliation.

“However, the Prime Minister has completely failed to do so. Despite his continuous stream of activity and statements, he never calls for peace and harmony in India – not when peaceful protestors are attacked, not when riots happen in Delhi and not when Manipur burns,” the booklet, published by the Congress on the occasion of completion of nine years in power by Prime Minister Modi, said.

The Opposition party said the PM’s silence during unrest was “perhaps unsurprising” since he came to prominence during communal riots in Gujarat, “a singular failure of administration (with Modi at the helm as CM) that he has yet to answer for”.

The opposition party accused the Modi government of openly encouraging hate speech and hate crimes. “Data shows that cases under Section 153 A of the IPC (promoting enmity on the ground of religion, race and place of birth) have increased by six times in 2020 compared to 2014”, the booklet stated.

It added that data analyzed for 10 years (2009-2019) showed a 91 per cent jump in recorded hate crimes after the Modi government came to power in 2014.

“No action is taken on high-profile incidents such as Union Ministers saying ‘goli maaro’ about peaceful protesters, BJP leaders threatening and initiating riots in Delhi, BJP government in Gujarat releasing Bilkis Bano’s rapists ….and ostensibly religious gatherings in different parts of the country where hatred and calls for violence are openly propagated”, the booklet said.

 “Nau Saal, Nau Sawal” (which translates as “Nine Years, Nine Questions”) was released at a press conference here today by Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh and party spokespersons Pawan Khera and Supriya Shrinate.

The booklet also dealt with other major issues such as rising prices, unemployment and farmers' income, border conflict with China and demanded an apology from the Prime Minister for the "betrayal" during his tenure.

 On the issue of the conflict with China, the booklet said  Modi’s “clean chit” given to China on June 19, 2020 immeasurably weakened India’s negotiating position and the country is paying a heavy price for it. Modi government has already ceded territory in Galwan, Pangong Tso. Gogra Post and Hot Springs by agreeing to buffer zones inside Indian territory in return for a Chinese withdrawal, it alleged.

Former party Rahul Gandhi raised these pressing issues during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the questions featuring in the booklet are based on that, Ramesh said.

In a social media post in Hindi, Rahul Gandhi also repeated the nine questions.

The booklet will be released by the Congress tomorrow in 35 locations across the country including Chandigarh and Dharamsala.