New Delhi: Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the Nation on the 71st Independence Day as ‘disappointing’, the Congress accused him of failing to explain the failure of his government to fulfill the promises made to people during the 2014 lok Sabha election. The principal opposition party also accused the PM of insulting the families of victims of the Gorakhpur tragedy by trivially comparing the incident with other natural calamities. Talking to reporters here, AICC spokesperson Anand Sharma said, ‘the PM’s address has been disappointing. It was time for him to give an account of failure of his government to deliver on its various promises, especially betrayal of the farmers, youth and the weaker sections . He had promised 2 cr jobs a year.
Now, he is not talking about jobs. Instead, he is calling on youth to generate self employment. India has lost jobs not in lakhs, but in millions, particularly in the informal sector, which has created a difficult situation for the poor and vulnerable sections. Post Demonetisation, job loss has been in millions.’ On the PM presenting GST as a ‘marvel’, Mr Sharma said, ‘post GST, small enterprises and small undertakings were not prepared and the government did nothing to assist them. While he took credit for the GST, it would have been better if the PM had acknowledged the cooperation by the opposition in getting the GST bill passed. For seven years, the previous government could not bring the GST because of persistent opposition by the then opposition BJP.’ On corruption, he termed the government’s battle against corruption as a ‘sham’, pointing to the non- appointment of the Lokpal and dilution of anti corruption law like the RTI.
