Modi@2: Cong Targets India Gate Gala, Sonia Calls PM ‘Shahenshah’

Opposition parties continue to attack the Modi government for not keeping the promises he made in 2014.

File photo of Narendra Modi. (Photo: AP)

The Modi government’s mega celebrations on completing two years in office has invited sharp criticism. Congress President Sonia Gandhi, on Tuesday, attacked the Modi government for their two-year celebrations, describing Prime Minister Modi as ‘Shahenshah’ (emperor).

I have never seen anything like this. He is the country’s Prime Minister, not an emperor. There is so much poverty in the country. There is drought. Farmers are in trouble. I do not find it appropriate that they (the government) shows off like this.

Sonia Gandhi, Congress President 

Earlier, on Monday, opposition parties dubbed Modi ‘sapno ka saudagar’ (merchant of dreams) for not keeping the promises he made while campaigning for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

While the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) accused the government of being anti-poor and pro-corporate, NCP complained that Modi has been unable to contain price rise.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma minced no words in his criticism. Asserting that the BJP-led government has miserably failed in every sphere, he termed the Prime Minister ‘sapno ka saudagar’ (merchant of dreams).

“Investments and export have dropped. Lakhs of people have lost jobs. Modi has betrayed the country,” Sharma told reporters in Lucknow.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said the nation has “seen through” the Prime Minister and in 2019, people will have the “last laugh.”

In the past two years, the NDA government ripped the social fabric, slayed institutions, demolished federalism, sunk the economy and shrunk India’s emerging international profile. That is the sum and substance of ‘achhe din’.

Manish Tewari, Congress Spokesperson

Congress leader Kishore Chandra Deo called Modi two-faced, comparing him to “double-headed temple of Janus, the Greek god who speaks with one face and acts with another.”

“Take only one issue – price rise – which affects the common people. Narendra Modi spoke much on the issue during campaigning. Now what is happening,” asked NCP leader DP Tripathi.

Lashing out at the Congress for attacking the government, BJP leader and Union Minister Kalraj Mishra accused the party of having a “negative” attitude.

Congress’ attitude has always been negative. They are levelling allegations to hide their shortcomings. They have always cheated the country and misled the people through false slogans.

On Friday, BJP chief Amit Shah had hit back against Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s dig about the anniversary celebrations, at a time when several states were facing drought.

Do you see celebration in this? This is not a celebration. I feel, taking government’s work to people through the press, interacting directly with people, giving an account as per its mandate is not celebration.

(With inputs from PTI.)