The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Ranchi): Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh confidently stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has faced significant losses in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, particularly in South India where he claims they have been “wiped out.” During a press conference in Ranchi, Ramesh described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the “outgoing prime minister,” indicating a strong belief in a forthcoming change in India’s political leadership.
Ramesh criticized the current government’s approach to campaigning, accusing the Prime Minister of polarizing the electorate on religious lines and misleading the public about his political tactics. He argued that the BJP’s narrative had shifted exclusively to communal themes, with no substantial discourse on developmental policies or visions for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India).
Highlighting the agenda of the INDIA bloc, a coalition that includes Congress and other opposition parties, Ramesh emphasized their commitment to conducting a nationwide caste census to ensure proper representation and equity for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and backward classes. He accused the BJP-led government of misusing central investigative agencies and vowed that a new government would revisit the powers granted to these bodies to prevent their exploitation for political ends.
Additionally, Ramesh accused the Modi government of altering land acquisition laws to benefit corporate interests at the expense of the general populace. He framed the election as a critical battle for the preservation of democratic values and constitutional integrity, positioning the INDIA bloc as the defenders of these principles.
As for economic promises, Ramesh contrasted the BJP’s abandoned slogan of achieving more than 400 Lok Sabha seats with Congress’s pledge to raise the minimum daily wage to Rs 400, including for workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
In response to recent allegations from PM Modi concerning Congress’s funding, Ramesh challenged the BJP to use its control over investigative agencies to substantiate their claims, thereby questioning the selective enforcement and political bias of these institutions.
