Choosing to draw comparisons between the two Prime Ministers, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he “talks more and works less” unlike his predecessor Manmohan Singh who “talked less and worked more”.
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Taking a step further in sharp criticism, Kharge alleged Modi considers responding to questions raised by the Opposition an insult, and recalled how the Opposition raised several issues, including on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and halting of Operation Sindoor, but the prime minister did not respond.
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The Congress president said this while addressing a Dr Manmohan Singh Fellowship Programme function at the Congress headquarters at Indira Bhawan, adding that ย he worked with the former prime minister who would talk less and work more.”He used to talk less and work more. But today’s prime minister talks more and works a little less. Manmohan Singh ji was always present in the House during Parliament sessions. He used to answer questions and respond to the Opposition’s comments as well. Today’s prime minister considers this an insult,” Kharge alleged.
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“Not even 10 per cent of the work done during his time has been done in the last 11 years. Those who become leaders after studying have more knowledge, they work more. They do not pay much attention to publicity,” the Congress chief said.Congratulating the fellows of the first batch of the Manmohan Singh Fellowship Programme launched by the All-India Professionals Congress, he said, “It is also your responsibility to carry forward the ideas of the Congress, which has a 140-year-old glorious heritage.” “Professionals and intellectuals have always played a major role in our freedom struggle and politics. When the Congress was formed in 1885, lawyers, teachers, doctors, engineers, scientists and officers were at its core.
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“Hundreds of heroes such as Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru ji, Sardar Patel, and Sarojini Naidu left their illustrious careers to serve the country. Congress is the only party that has always given space to professionals and respected their abilities.”Manmohan Singh is the biggest example of this. Rajiv Gandhi ji was also a pilot before joining politics. His work as the prime minister was excellent,” Kharge said.Noting that in Indian history, the UPA regime after 1990 was a different era of change, Kharge said that under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, historic decisions like Right to Information Act, MNREGA, Right to Education, Food Security, and Forest Rights were taken with the help of professionals.
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“Manmohan Singh did not let the shadow of the 2008 global recession fall on India. India’s average GDP growth rate was 8 per cent.
“I would like to tell you that the work on Aadhaar card started during that time. By 2014, bank accounts had been opened in more than half of the rural households,” he claimed.Kharge also said the foundation of initiatives like direct benefit transfer and digital revolution was laid during Manmohan Singh’s tenure, when many important decisions were taken, including Rs 70,000 crore loan waiver for the farmers.
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“Today, the condition of the farmers is bad. Seven hundred farmers were martyred but there was no one from the government to inquire about them,” Kharge said.”The Congress has always followed progressive ideas.ย Today, the public sector is on the verge of collapsing. Jobs are disappearing,” he added. The Congress president said that all the 50 fellows have been selected from more than 1,300 applicants and they now have the responsibility to carry forward the legacy of Manmohan Singh.
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