NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday criticised President Droupadi Murmu’s address in Parliament, calling it a “propaganda tool and a political speech” to endorse the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Responding to the Presidential address, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said it read more like an advertisement for the Modi government. “The President’s speech was only about praising Modi and his government. It was a propaganda, an advertisement for the PM and a political speech. The speech did not mention anything about issues like employment and others. This was a document to trap the poor,” said Kharge.
“Maybe the President was directed to speak in such a way that she followed in her 1 hour and 20 minutes long speech,” the Congress leader said.
Addressing a joint sitting of the two Houses in the new Parliament building on Wednesday, President Murmu spoke on various achievements of the government from economy, building of Ram temple, abrogation of Article 370 and women’s reservation bill.
Echoing Kharge’s views, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor described the President’s address as an election speech and a one-sided narrative. “They have written an election speech for the President to deliver. They have not talked about the things they have not done. They claimed that they pull people out of poverty but they also talked about giving 81 crore people food grains,” said Tharoor. “This is a one-sided narrative that leaves out several important omissions,” he said.
Another Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that economic and social issues were crushed in the President’s speech.
“...Economic and social issues were crushed in the President’s speech. I think the way those close to the PM are being benefitted will continue to get benefits with this year’s budget,” he said.