New Delhi, Feb 4 (UNI) Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Wednesday mounted a sweeping attack on the Modi government, accusing it of all-round failure on foreign policy, the economy, social justice and parliamentary democracy, and alleging that democratic institutions and constitutional values were being systematically weakened.
Speaking during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha in the ongoing Budget Session, Kharge said the address was “silent on the real concerns of the country” and failed to reflect the hardships faced by the poor, farmers, labourers, women, minorities and marginalised communities.
“Parliamentary democracy is under attack,” Kharge told the House, alleging that the government was weakening debate, accountability and legislative scrutiny.
He said the President’s address did not offer any concrete answers on women’s reservation, caste census, unemployment, rising inequality, atrocities against Dalits, tribals and minorities, or on India’s foreign policy challenges.
Foreign policy has been reduced to “event management”, eroding the country’s strategic autonomy.
He expressed concern over China’s growing influence in India’s neighbourhood and the widening trade deficit with Beijing. “Foreign policy failures are not just diplomatic failures. They have consequences for internal security as well,” Kharge said, linking them to terrorist incidents that have resulted in loss of life and property.
He accused the government of focusing more on optics than outcomes on the global stage. Kharge also targeted the recently concluded Indo-US trade agreement, warning that it could prove detrimental to Indian farmers. “This deal will increase pressure on small and marginal farmers and may undermine the Minimum Support Price system,” he said, questioning whether the interests of the agricultural sector had been adequately safeguarded.
On the economy, the Congress chief flagged rising inequality, alleging that a disproportionate share of the nation’s wealth was concentrated in the hands of the top one per cent, while incomes and opportunities for the lower strata were shrinking.
He criticised the government’s silence on the depreciation of the rupee and rising unemployment. Kharge said millions of posts remained vacant in the central government and accused the Centre of failing to provide jobs to the youth.
He also expressed concern over increasing drug abuse across the country and warned that it posed a serious social and economic challenge.
Referring to the rural employment scheme, he alleged that MGNREGA was being diluted. “It is being converted from a rights-based programme into a discretionary scheme, which will weaken the security of poor and rural labourers,” he said.
On social justice, Kharge accused the government of indefinitely postponing the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act by linking it to the census, even as it claimed to champion women’s empowerment. “Women are being treated only as a vote bank,” he said, adding that the BJP and the RSS had not given top leadership positions to women.
He also raised the issue of the caste census, alleging that the Centre initially opposed it and, even after agreeing in principle, had failed to provide a roadmap. “No consultations have been held with states, political parties or experts,” he said.
Questioning the utilisation of funds meant for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Kharge said large sums remained unspent under schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana, PM-YASASVI scholarships and post-matric scholarships. He alleged that welfare schemes strengthened under previous Congress governments were being weakened through reduced allocations and poor implementation.
On social harmony, Kharge referred to the prolonged violence in Manipur, saying that despite more than 200 deaths and the displacement of over 70,000 people, political leadership had failed to act decisively.
He objected to communal speeches, selective action and what he described as “bulldozer politics”, warning that such practices were dangerous for democracy.
Kharge accused the government of hollowing out parliamentary processes, alleging that the importance of short-notice questions, half-hour discussions and private member bills was being deliberately reduced. He disclosed that most questions related to the Prime Minister were not accepted in the 16th and 17th Lok Sabha.
According to him, questions on critical national issues — including the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir, inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, the Agnipath scheme and rehabilitation in Manipur — were rejected. He also said a very few Bills were being referred to parliamentary committees, weakening legislative scrutiny.
Targeting Governors in opposition-ruled states, Kharge alleged that they were acting as “agents of the Centre” and violating constitutional norms by disregarding the advice of elected state governments.
Summing up his critique, Kharge accused the Modi government and the RSS of weakening the social fabric and constitutional framework of the country.
“You have attacked justice, liberty, equality and fraternity,” he said, warning that excessive glorification of one leader and intolerance of dissent posed a serious threat to the Constitution.
Despite repeated objections from treasury bench members, Kharge maintained that his remarks were based on data and constitutional principles, and reflected the concerns of large sections of the country that found no mention in the President’s address. UNI SKA KK