Congress plans five-day offensive on Modi govt's anniversary

NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leaders will fan out across states for a five-day attack on the Modi government’s first anniversary, a move aimed at amplifying its focus on “aam aadmi” concerns under the saffron regime.
Congress sources said the party has asked its top talking heads to visit state capitals and speak about the “failures” of the Modi government.
The campaign is likely to kick off on May 20 and go on till May 25, with the carpet bombing planned to capture popular propaganda space as the saffron family plans its own campaign to highlight the BJP regime’s achievements on its first anniversary. The BJP blitz is to be carried out by Union ministers.
According to sources, the speakers would underline the concerns over regular fuel price hikes, failure of the Modi regime to fulfill its election promise on black money and farmers’ crisis as highlighted by Rahul Gandhi. The campaign will be topped by the controversial land acquisition bill.
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Besides central functionaries who will address press conferences, the state units will carry out mass contact programmes like public meetings and padyatras to slam the Centre.
Though mass campaign is not Congress’s style, the party is fast realizing that it has to change tack. The five-day offensive comes amid Rahul’s tour of states to highlight farmers’ suicides, his strong attack on the Centre in Parliament and a collective focus on land acquisition law as “anti-farmer”.
Congressmen argue they have to learn to stay in perpetual campaign mode since the prime minister is missing no opportunity to score political points, especially his attacks on the rival on foreign tours.
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Chief AICC spokesman Randeep Surjewala slammed the PM for using his China visit "to mount a disgraceful and distasteful attack on the opposition and beating his own drum".
"Verbal character assassination of India's achievements of last 67 years on foreign soil by Modi is unacceptable and a new low in practising despicable politics. From Canada to China, the PM continues to repeat this historical blunder with scant regard to dissent, opposition and norms of conduct of his high office," Surjewala said.
For Congress, its best bet against Modi is to paint his government as “anti-poor”. It also plans to focus on populist promises which the Centre has failed to deliver, like getting back black money in 100 days and depositing Rs 15 lakh in every citizen’s bank account.