NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed Congress party for making "unreal" and "fake" promises to the people, adding that the poor, youngsters, farmers and women had become the "victims of such politics." His remarks came in the backdrop of Mallikarjun Kharge's advice to his party's Karnataka unit to make only those promises that are fiscally sound.
"The people of the country will have to be vigilant against the Congress sponsored culture of fake promises! We saw recently how the people of Haryana rejected their lies and preferred a Government that is stable, progress oriented and action driven," PM Modi said in a post on X.
"The Congress Party is realising the hard way that making unreal promises is easy but implementing them properly is tough or impossible. Campaign after campaign they promise things to the people, which they also know they will never be able to deliver. Now, they stand badly exposed in front of the people!," he added.
Read also: 'Congress accepted they misled public', BJP demands apology from Kharge, Rahul Gandhi over 'Shakti scheme''Guarantees lie unfulfilled, terrible deceit'
The prime minister pointed out that the Congress-ruled states, including Karnataka, Himachal and Telangana, have been facing fiscal issues as the grand old party has failed to implement their "so-called Guarantees ."
"Check any state where the Congress has Governments today - Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana- the developmental trajectory and fiscal health is turning from bad to worse. Their so-called Guarantees lie unfulfilled, which is a terrible deceit upon the people of these states. The victims of such politics are the poor, youngsters, farmers and women, who are not only denied the benefits of these promises but also see their existing schemes diluted," he said.
'What PM said is wrong'
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal dismissed PM Modi's accusations, adding that the Karnataka government was implementing the schemes promised.
"We are implementing everything in Karnataka in a greater way. Anybody can check. We are implementing our promises, which is a clear model of Congress' promises. We are implementing in Karnataka whatever we promised. Anybody can examine it," he said.
"What PM said is wrong...Basically, the government of India is not delivering what they promised...They are blaming us for non-delivery. But on our part, we are delivering on our promises," he added.
'Congress busier in intra-party politics'
Without taking any names, PM Modi accused Congress party of being more involved in internal politics in Karnataka and 'looting' the states which it rules.
"In Karnataka, Congress is busier in intra-party politics and loot instead of even bothering to deliver on development. Not only that, they are also going to rollback existing schemes. In Himachal Pradesh, salaries of Government workers is not paid on time. In Telangana, farmers are waiting for the waiver they promised. Previously, in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan they promised certain allowances which were never implanted for five years. There are numerous such examples of how the Congress works," he said.
Earlier today, Congress president Kharge had underlined the need for careful planning, cautioning and had said that a hasty approach could strain finances and affect future generations. This came after the state government's proposal to reconsider the Shakti scheme, which provides free bus transport for women.
"In Maharashtra, I advised that they shouldn't announce 5, 10, or 20 guarantees. Guarantees should be based on budget. Otherwise, there'll be bankruptcy. If there's no money for roads, people will turn against you. If this government fails, future generations will inherit only a bad reputation. They'll face a decade in exile," he had said.
The remarks attracted political attention with the BJP demanding an apology from Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
"For the first time, Congress has accepted that they have misled the public...Will Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge apologise for what is happening in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh?... The INDI alliance will do the same in Maharashtra and Jharkhand and mislead the public...Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the nation," the BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
He added that, in contrast to the Congress, the BJP only makes promises rooted in "fiscal prudence."
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