False poll promises row: Kharge counters Modi’s ‘fake’ charges; dares PM to speak on real issues

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday countered Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s false poll promises charges and charged the Bharatiya Janata Party’s policies are corroding the economy. Kharge dared the prime minister to speak on real issues instead of “spewing lies against opposition”.

Saying fake narratives cannot substitute welfare for the public, Kharge in a post on X said the Narendra Modi-led government has created an economic turmoil in the country by “looting ordinary citizens of their last paisa”. Saying even the Diwali festival could not lift the spirits of India's economy, Kharge charged that BJP's anti-people policies are “corroding India's economy”.

“Even industry captains are forced to talk about 'missing middle class' syndrome, as the Modi government deals a body blow to the poor and middle class by imposing back-breaking price rise and wiping out their savings through mindless taxation,” he alleged. 

Highlighting inflation and contraction in the automobile sector, Kharge said, “Food Inflation is at 9.2 per cent. Vegetable inflation surged from 10.7 per cent in August to a 14-month high of 36 per cent in September 2024. It is a fact that the FMCG sector has seen demand sharply decline, with growth in sales dropping from 10.1 per cent to just 2.8 per cent in a year.” 

The Congress leader’s attack comes after the prime minister recently slammed Kharge for reportedly advising Congress leaders to make only those promises that are fiscally doable. “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!" Modi said. Union Minister Amit Shah also took a dig at Kharge on Sunday for making false poll promises during the elections.

The Congress chief claimed that household savings have plunged to a 50-year low and consumption has severely dipped due to high food inflation. “Analysts at Nomura India have noted that urban demand shall continue to lag due to lower salary increases, waning pent-up demand, high interest rates, and tight credit conditions," he said.

The Congress president said SUV sales are at a 26-month low and passenger vehicle sales dropped by 19 per cent in September. “Modi ji, it is crystal clear that you do not believe in hard data, since you have mastered the art of fakery! BJP's anti-people policies are corroding India's economy!”,the Congress president tweeted.