Opposition leaders attended a luncheon hosted by Sonia Gandhi.
The opposition today launched a frontal attack on the NDA government on its third anniversary, with the Congress saying that the country was "on the verge of strife" and had a "dark future" under Modi dispensation while other parties alleged atrocities against weaker sections.
Top opposition leaders who came together at a luncheon hosted by Congress president Sonia Gandhi highlighted the "failures" of Modi government, including "incidents of intolerance", and resolved to unitedly oppose its policies which, they alleged, were imposing unprecedented burden on all sections of people, including the poor, working class, SC/STs, minorities and women. The parties also expressed concern over the prevailing grave situation in Jammu and Kashmir, according to a joint statement issued on the opposition's behalf.
The Congress predicted "a dark future" for the country on the economic and social side and alleged that it was on the verge of seeing strife. It also demanded a White Paper on the government's employment strategy. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi alleged that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had "failed to deliver", and so tried to "divide and distract" the people. Gandhi also stressed that "anger and hatred" were no solutions to the problems that the people faced.
Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath said the hallmark of this government in the last three years has been of "bravado, rhetoric and hyperbole" and is spending more than Rs 2,000 crore on this publicity blitz on its anniversary. "The future of this country is dark from the economic point of view and from the social point of view. The country had never been so divided. The country is on the verge of seeing strife in the future," he told reporters here.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said all parties criticised the handling of Kashmir and Saharanpur incidents as well as demonetisation and rising incidents of vigilantism and attacks on various sections including dalits, minorities and women. "Everyone criticised the horrible situation in Kashmir, Saharanpur," she said after the meeting. The opposition leaders spoke against the current climate of "intolerance and imposition of ideology:.
Sharad Yadav and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad said government had "failed on all fronts". "Modi has been successful only on one front that the Pakistan flag is fluttering in Jammu and Kashmir," Lalu Prasad said. CPI's D Raja alleged that the government has not fulfilled any promise made to people. "What is there to celebrate, except failures of this government." Nath, a former Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said the highlight of Modi government is "media management, propaganda, platitudes and acronyms" and asked the people to bring a change in the politics.
"India needs a massive political change. This change in politics is not only going to reflect in the politics of today but the politics of tomorrow." "The three years of government is only 'Bhashan or Ashvasan' (speeches and promises). "The biggest challenge is unemployment," he said, adding that "unfortunately the country is becoming a victim to this hyperbole and sloganeering." Alleging the government has failed to create jobs, he said, "We demand the government issue a White Paper on its employment strategy." Nath said that diversionary tactics were being used by the BJP.
Nath said the IT sector is facing joblessness and feared this is not only going to cause economic issues, but huge social issues. "In the last three years, aspirations have been crushed and the nation betrayed. Is BJP government's 'Modi Fest' a celebration of people? Are farmers and youths celebrating? Is the industry celebrating?" he asked.
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