All India Congress Committee spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Rathore on Wednesday criticised the BJP for comparing the tenures of Jawaharlal Nehru and Prime Minister Narendra Modi while celebrating Modi's 12 years in office. He said the two leaders belonged to different eras and drawing comparisons between them was not justified.
Speaking to reporters, Rathore said instead of celebrating the completion of 12 years of the Modi government, the BJP should explain why key issues such as unemployment, inflation and farmers' concerns remain unresolved.
He said the duration of a prime minister's tenure is not the most important measure. What matters is the contribution made towards the country's progress, prosperity and democratic values, he added.
Rathore said Nehru played a major role in India's freedom struggle and spent time in jail during the movement. He added that Nehru helped build modern India by establishing educational institutions, promoting science and technology, strengthening infrastructure and introducing five-year development plans. Comparing him with Modi was neither logical nor appropriate, he added.
The Congress leader said every former prime minister contributed to nation-building in different ways. However, he alleged that unemployment had risen during the Modi government's tenure. He claimed that many young people were disappointed, economic inequality had increased and policies were benefiting large industrial groups more than ordinary citizens.
Questioning the Centre's foreign policy, Rathore said recent international developments suggest that India is not as influential globally as the government claims. He also alleged that some traditional allies were keeping their distance.
Referring to Himachal Pradesh, Rathore said the Centre had promised to increase import duty on apples. Instead, he claimed that free trade agreements led to higher apple imports, affecting local growers and orchardists.
Mentioning recent examination paper leak cases, Rathore demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on moral grounds. He alleged that the government was not taking the concerns of young people seriously.
Rathore also said he supported the views expressed by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi regarding the state of democracy and the country's economic challenges.
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