BJP steps up attack on Cong over poll promises, Kharge hits back | India News

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge

New Delhi: In a fresh salvo aimed at Congress amid a war of words over election promises, BJP on Saturday emphasised the credibility of commitments made under PM Modi, contrasting it with what they described as Congress’s “crisis of credibility”.
Party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said BJP had progressively expanded the scope of its welfare schemes – from health insurance to free grains and cash transfers for farmers – by first creating wealth and then distributing it as the Indian economy grew over the past decade.
The rebuttal came a day after Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge labeled “Modi ki guarantee” as a cruel jest. Union minister Hardeep Puri accused Kharge of spreading falsehoods and being obsessed with “khana-kamana” (eating and earning).
“We believe in creating wealth first and then distributing it. Congress, however, stands for creating corruption and destroying wealth,” Trivedi said, referencing numerous unfulfilled promises by Congress-governed states. Taking a jibe at Kharge’s consistency, Trivedi said, “Was Kharge speaking the truth on Friday or the day before?” He suggested that Kharge’s critique was a cover-up for his earlier comments on fiscal responsibility. Trivedi highlighted achievements under Modi, including the Ram temple construction, Article 370 revocation, building of over 14 crore houses for the poor, and India’s firm stance against Pakistan on terrorism. He added that as a Congress veteran, Kharge has witnessed netas like P V Narasimha Rao and Pranab Mukherjee handle the economy skilfully under challenging conditions, yet now sees his party influenced by “urban Naxals” under Rahul Gandhi.
Refuting Kharge’s claims, Trivedi said EPFO data showed account holders had increased from 11 crore to 25 crore over a decade. Puri criticised Kharge for misinterpreting data, stating the worker-to-population ratio had risen by nearly 26% between 2017-2023. Puri urged Congress to stop relying on foreign perspectives and flawed indices like the Global Hunger Index. He said Kharge should not believe “an Index which ranks India a country which is distributing dry rations to its more than 81 crore people at 105 (2024), while a country like Pakistan torn by internal strife at 109”.