Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of scoring a 'double F' in ensuring fuel and fertiliser security for the country. He termed the ongoing debate over delimitation as a mere theatrical distraction from pressing issues.
Kharge's Sharp Critique
Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Kharge said the government's performance on fuel and fertiliser security has been abysmal. He pointed to rising petrol and diesel prices and the shortage of fertilisers ahead of the kharif season as evidence of the government's failure.
'The Modi government has scored a double F in ensuring fuel and fertiliser security. Instead of addressing these critical issues, they are busy with delimitation theatrics,' Kharge said.
Fuel Price Hike
Kharge highlighted that petrol and diesel prices have touched record highs in several states, burdening the common man. He accused the government of not taking adequate steps to reduce the tax burden on fuel, which constitutes a significant portion of the retail price.
'The government should reduce excise duty and ask states to cut VAT to provide relief to the people. But they are more interested in political gimmicks,' he added.
Fertiliser Shortage
The Congress president also expressed concern over the shortage of fertilisers, particularly DAP and urea, which could impact crop yields. He blamed the government for poor planning and lack of coordination with fertiliser companies.
'Farmers are struggling to get fertilisers at affordable prices. The government's failure to ensure timely supply will hurt agricultural production and food security,' Kharge warned.
Delimitation Debate
Kharge dismissed the government's push for delimitation as a diversionary tactic. Delimitation involves redrawing constituency boundaries based on population changes, which has been a contentious issue in southern states that fear losing parliamentary seats.
'The government is using delimitation to divert attention from its failures on the economic and agricultural fronts. The Congress party will not allow this theatrics to succeed,' he asserted.
Political Reactions
The Congress president's remarks come amid a heated political debate over delimitation, with several opposition parties accusing the BJP of using it to consolidate its electoral advantage. The government, however, maintains that delimitation is necessary for fair representation.
Kharge called upon the opposition to unite against the government's 'anti-people' policies and demand immediate action on fuel and fertiliser prices.
'We will raise these issues in Parliament and on the streets. The people of India deserve better governance,' he concluded.
