Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government on Wednesday, accusing it of using the National Herald case to target the Congress party and distract from its own economic mismanagement. This comes after the Enforcement Directorate filed a prosecution complaint against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and others in connection with the alleged money laundering case.
Kharge stated that the government’s economic policies were spiraling out of control, and it had no solutions or vision for the future, only attempts to shift attention away from its shortcomings. In a social media post, Kharge said, “Your despotic Sarkar is hell-bent on targeting the Congress to whitewash its own sins. BJP’s Economic Mismanagement is spiralling out of control. Desperation is gathering steam. No vision, No solution, only diversion!”
Kharge highlighted several key failures of the BJP government, including the rising trade deficit, which had reached a three-year high, and the lack of clear plans to address tariffs and the ongoing trade war. He criticized the government for empty promises and ineffective diplomatic visits, instead of providing practical solutions.
He also pointed to rising commodity prices, citing a survey by the Reserve Bank of India that found 90% of consumers reported price hikes, with over 80% spending more while incomes remained stagnant. Kharge noted that the FMCG sector’s revenue growth had slowed to 5% in FY25, with no improvement in profit margins.
The Congress President also condemned the government’s tax collection on fuel, amounting to Rs 39 lakh crore until December 2024, and a recent hike in LPG prices, which he said burdened economically weaker sections of society. He drew attention to the high unemployment rates, particularly among graduates, with the unemployment rate at 13% and youth unemployment at 10.2%, as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). He also mentioned that several prestigious institutions, such as IITS and IIITS, had seen a decline in placements.
Finally, Kharge criticized the sharp decline in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which plummeted to just under USD 1.4 billion in 2024, compared to USD 19 billion in 2012-13.
Kharge concluded by asserting that the people of India would not forgive the BJP for its economic mismanagement and assured that Congress would continue to expose the government’s failures. This comes as the Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet against Congress leaders is set to be heard in court on April 25.