The prime minister’s address fails to acknowledge unemployment, economic distress, and growing inequality, says Jairam Ramesh
NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address is “stale, hypocritical, insipid, and troubling,” the main opposition party said on Friday.
The party also sharply criticised the prime minister for bringing RSS in his speech what it called a “blatant breach of constitutional spirit”.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary and MP Jairam Ramesh said the speech was “a bland mix of self-congratulation and selective storytelling” that failed to acknowledge unemployment, economic distress, and growing inequality.
Ramesh accused the PM of repeating “recycled slogans” like Viksit Bharat, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas without measurable results. He also targeted Modi’s semiconductor manufacturing claims, calling them “a huge lie,” and said promises on job creation and farmers’ welfare had become “empty rituals.”
The Congress leader said Modi’s remarks on unity and democracy were ironic, alleging that the prime minister has “engineered the collapse” of institutions such as the Election Commission and disenfranchised voters through the Special Intensive Revision of rolls in Bihar. He further charged that the Modi government continues to “erode federalism and topple Opposition-run governments.”
He termed Modi’s reference to the RSS from the Red Fort “a blatant breach of the spirit of a constitutional, secular republic,” suggesting it was meant to appease the Sangh in the run-up to his 75th birthday. Recently RSS supermo Mohan Bhagwat suggested that one should retire from active politics upon attaining the age of 75. His statement is seen as a nudge to Modi to retire from public life who will be 75 next month.
Modi and Amit Shah pushed several senior leaders including LK Advani, MM Joshi to sideline by using the age criteria.
Taking a dig at the prime minister, the Congress leader said that “The PM was tired today. Soon he will be retired.”
