New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to the recent release of a ‘black paper’ by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, which highlighted what the party termed as the government’s failures. The black paper was issued as a counter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s upcoming ‘white paper’ to be presented in Parliament.
Sitharaman had announced the white paper during her budget speech, intending to examine the period before 2014 and the current state of affairs to draw lessons from past mismanagement.
Kharge, upon releasing the black paper, criticized the government’s alleged failure to address issues such as job creation, unequal distribution of MGNREGA funds, and discrimination against states. He also questioned the government’s measures to control inflation and challenged its economic policies, citing high unemployment rates and controversial decisions like demonetization and the GST rollout.
In response, Prime Minister Modi, while bidding farewell to outgoing MPs in the Rajya Sabha, likened the black paper to a “kaala tika,” a symbolic gesture to ward off the evil eye, suggesting that it was an attempt to undermine his government’s achievements. He sarcastically thanked Kharge for the gesture, indicating that the country had been progressing positively over the past decade.
During his address, Modi also praised former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his dedication to Parliament and the nation, particularly highlighting Singh’s recent appearance and vote in the Upper House despite being in a wheelchair. This reference was to Singh’s participation in the vote on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which aimed to consolidate the Centre’s authority over Delhi officers. The BJP had criticized the Congress for allegedly making Singh wait late into the session.
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