Ghulam Nabi Azad Accuses BJP of Polarising the Country for Votes

The opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azam in the Rajya Sabha, on Monday, 5 February, accused the BJP-led government of polarising the country and creating a "fear psychosis" among the people, alleging that it was just renaming the earlier policies without delivering their benefits to the poor.

It is not a ‘game changer’ but a ‘name changer government’ which has failed to deliver on all fronts be it providing relief to farmers and poor, generate jobs or addressing the Kashmir issue, Azad said.

He attacked the government for creating fear, not only among people but also among the bureaucrats and opposition leaders.

In his speech, Azad said the government was not only polarising the country, but also dividing parties in the opposition and intimidating them by using the CBI and the ED.

While supporting the draft triple talaq bill, Azad objected to the stringent punishment it proposes for a man for ending marriage through instant triple talaq.

You have divided Shias and Sunnis. Now, you are dividing husband and wife. You cannot polarise the nation. ... What kind of division are you involved in? Why are you intimidating the minority community who are victims of fear psychosis?You should spare some section. We don’t want this New India. You have polarised it. Return us the India of Gandhi where no fear existed.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress Leader

The government does not have any clear policy," he said, dubbing the NDA government for being ‘weakest’ in 70 years.

Attacking the government for being insensitive towards farmers, Azad said the government making "false promises" of doubling income by 2022, which cannot be implemented with the current budget allocation to the farm sector.

Accusing the government for 'repackaging' the UPA schemes, senior Congress leader listed out the schemes like Swachch Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padao and Mudra in which the Modi dispensation changed their names and now takes credit.

It is not a game changer but a name changer government.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress Leader

Azad said the BJP President's speech does not mention of the unfulfilled promises – be it depositing Rs 15 lakh in poor people's bank accounts, creating of 10 crore jobs, providing MSP 50 per cent more than cost of production or ensuring lower fuel prices.

Highlighting the government's failures, he said it has been able to construct only 50 per cent of the targeted 12 crore toilets under the Swachch Bharat scheme so far.

Countering BJP’s charges against Congress on dynastic politics, Azad said there has not been any PM or minister from the Gandhi family in last 22 years. He also said the current government was afraid of current leadership of the party.

(Inputs from PTI)

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad