The Congress has alleged that the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is afraid of facing the truth and has been suppressing the voice of the opposition and the media, considered to be the mirror of democracy, over the past 12 years.
Congress Communications Department head Pawan Khera said at a press conference at the party headquarters here on Wednesday that Mr. Modi blames global wars for the economic crisis in the country, but the truth is that the country's economy was already facing challenges and the Congress has been warning about it continuously. He said, "In democracy, the opposition and the media are the mirrors that show the truth to those in power, but the Modi government, which is afraid of the truth, is working to break this mirror. A lie is afraid of the mirror."
Mr. Khera alleged that the Prime Minister has not held a press conference in the past 12 years, because he is afraid that the media might ask him difficult questions. He said that the Prime Minister advises the country and goes on foreign tours, and before that, he does long road shows. He also targeted the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying that many leaders pretend to travel by public transport or bike, while a convoy of their cars follows behind.
The Congress leader, raising the issue of inflation, claimed that the LPG cylinder, which was available for Rs 414 in 2014, has now become Rs 915, showing an increase of 121 percent. He said that commercial cylinders are being sold on the black market, the prices of food items have risen, and essential items like milk and bread have also become expensive. He alleged that the rupee has consistently weakened to reach the level of 97 and the government is keeping the public away from the real figures. He said that Mr. Modi first demanded 60 days, then 60 months, and now he is demanding time till 2047, but he does not answer about the economic figures in between.
He claimed that in the past 12 years, there has been a 38 percent increase in petrol prices and a 62 percent increase in diesel prices. The Congress leader said that during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, despite higher crude oil prices, petrol and diesel prices remained under control, while in the current government, fuel is being sold at a higher price despite lower crude oil prices. Mr. Khera alleged that the government's responsibility is to reduce the problems of the people, but the Modi government is working to increase the problems of the people.