Modi govt has plundered economy through demonetisation, GST and lockdown, says Congress

Echoing former Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s views, the Congress party on Thursday hit out at the Narendra Modi-led Central government for pushing the country towards an ‘economic collapse’ and a ‘financial emergency’.

The Congress said that demonetisation, GST and the COVID-19 lockdown were not master but “disastrous strokes”.

Head of the Congress media cell, Randeep Surjewala said the GDP slump in the first quarter will have an adverse impact on the average income of every Indian, which is likely to decline by almost Rs 15,000 per person if the GDP fell by 11 per cent in the full year.

Demanding the resignation of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Surjewala said, “There are dark clouds of economic decay all around us. Lives, livelihoods and jobs have been ravaged. Businesses and small and medium industries lie dilapidated. The economy stands destroyed as GDP has been razed. India is being pushed towards an economic collapse and a financial emergency”.

Surjewala alleged the Modi government has “plundered” the economy in the last six years and is now describing its own ineptitude and incompetence as an “act of God”.

“Sadly, this is the only government in the past 73 years which has blamed God for its own follies,” said Surjewala.

He said the GDP under Modi government has become “Grave Damage to Public Good”. He alleged that inflation is hitting the common man hard and the “surge” in taxes and an economy in free fall have broken the back of people.

“India suffers from a confidence deficit in the Modi government. Ask the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and they will tell you that neither do the banks extend loans or financial assistance nor do the words of the Finance Minister have any meaning… States have no faith in the Central government. An atmosphere of distrust is prevailing,” alleged the Congress chief spokesperson.