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again going to be an election issue. He will reiter- women. “You did not utter a word, whether on Bihar
ate his allegations that Congress rule was corrupt or Unnao or any other rape incident that happened
and inefficient. Instead of counting scandals during in the country,” he said.
the Congress rule, he is now claiming that he gave a He also asked, “Will you today debate on the fail-
corruption-free rule. This could not be done in 2014 ing economy and falling rupee, for the rupee has hit a
polls. new low that is 70 and the trade deficit has gone over
“The corrupt and those who have black money USD 18 billion. Will you today debate as to the man-
would not be forgiven. He said that Delhi’s streets are ner in which China has occupied Doklam, they are
now free from power brokers, and the voice of the intruding into Ladakh and has been engulfing India
poor is heard,” he said. from all sides.
Extending the theme of transparent and honest re- He also urged the prime minister to debate on
gime, he referred to the increase in the number of tax Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and unemployment
payers and reduction in the number of beneficiaries country. Other parties and organisations have also
of the government schemes. He asserted that better found loopholes in his theme.
targeting of government benefits has been achieved Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj India has found fault
by weeding out about 6 crore fake beneficiaries. The with PM’s assertion that improved saved life of three
honest taxpayer of India has a major role in the pro- lakh children. He said that Modi referred WHO state-
gress of the nation, he said, adding that it is due to ment wrongly. He also contradicted his assertions on
them that so many people are fed, and the lives of the farmers’ issue.
poor are transformed. He also mentioned how regis- The CPIM has also pointed out how trade deficit
tration of fake companies has been canceled. has reached a worst phase. “The worst trade deficit
All these things are parts of his same old and tested in 5 years; he worst performing currency in Asia this
theme of Sabka saath, Sabka Vikas which is likely to year. Modi can’t hide behind the jumla of global fac-
continue with in the coming Lok Sabha polls. His tors for the disaster he has unleashed on India”, says
speech from the Red Fort testified it. He attacked CPIM general secretary Sitaram Yechury.
the Congress on corruption and so called ‘policy Though it needs no emphasis that Modi has been
paralyses’. aggressively pursuing liberal economic policies that
“International organizations and agencies were are friendly to Indian and global corporate. His new
looking at India very differently today, as compared programs also heavily rely on private sector. His pro-
to 2013. He said that from a time of “policy paralysis”, grams for internet connectivity, skill development,
India had moved to “Reform, Perform, and Trans- health, insurance and even sanitation largely depend
form.” He said India is now a member of several im- on the involvement of private sector. The Ayushman
portant multilateral organizations, and is leading the Bharat scheme is in fact a revival package for insur-
International Solar Alliance. He also asserted that ance companies. People are bound the quote figures
India has become sixth largest economy of the world. of Crop Insurance Scheme which clearly reveals that
But in his attempt to popularize a corporate India , it only benefitted insurance companies.
Modi has not forgotten to balance the social realities Will he be able to rally people behind him on these
of the country. He not only cited the benefits he has programs? The question cannot be answered eas-
given to farmers, but also asserted how he made OBC ily as it depends on several factors. However, the
Commission a reality. BJP and the RSS is not relying solely on the slogan
of development. A careful analysis of his last speech
Will his assertions on corruption remain reveals that he will also use communal card. Modi,
unchallenged? however, only vaguely hinted at it. He was wearing
“We ask you Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, a saffron turban and he alleged that political par-
five years after you have taken over as prime minis- ties are obstructing the passage of the Triple Talaq
ter, are you ready for a debate on these very issues Bill. This is no secret that the BJP is using the issue
with Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Will you for stressing that the Congress is adopting a policy of
debate on the issue of corruption and Rafale and Muslim appeasement. The issue could be used fur-
Vyapam and other corruption scams of your gov- ther to target Muslim minority. The opposition has
ernment for you did not utter a single word from the pointed out how he chose not to speak on cases of
precincts of the Red Fort on corruption,” Randeep mob lynching. In his statement on lynching few days
Surjewala reacted. ago, he refrained from assuring a strong action by the
Surjewala also asked for an open debate with the centre. He also issued no warning to cow-vigilantes.
Congress president on issues such as the state of
India’s farmers, mob lynching and insecurity of letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 31 august 2018 19 www.Tehelka.com