KKN Gurugram Desk |  Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, holding it responsible for India’s slow economic growth in the first four decades after Independence. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, he blamed Congress for corruption, misgovernance, and stifling economic policies that hindered India’s development.

He pointed out that the term “Hindu rate of growth”, coined by economist Raj Krishna, was used to describe India’s weak economy during the Congress regime. Modi accused Congress of failing in governance and then blaming an entire civilization for the economic stagnation.

“They (Congress) failed, but they blamed Hindus for it,” Modi said, highlighting how his government has transformed India’s economy into one of the fastest-growing in the world.

Modi Criticizes Congress’s Economic Policies and ‘Licence Raj’

PM Modi contrasted the economic scenario under Congress rule with today’s booming economy. He reminded the Parliament of a time when buying a scooter required a decade-long wait, and gas connections were distributed based on MPs’ quotas.

He blamed the ‘Licence Raj’ system and government-controlled markets for suppressing India’s entrepreneurial potential. According to him, these policies hindered economic growth and discouraged businesses from flourishing.

“India’s natural ability for free trade and business was crushed under Congress’s governance,” he said, adding that his government has freed the country from economic restrictions.

To support his claims, Modi cited two Congress MPs, one of whom, a former finance minister, admitted that people had to pay bribes to obtain licenses under the old system. Another Congress leader revealed how his father had to wait for 15 years to buy a car due to bureaucratic red tape.

Emergency Era: Bollywood and Artists Targeted by Congress

Modi also accused Congress of targeting artists and film stars during the Emergency. He recalled how legendary lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri was jailed during Jawaharlal Nehru’s tenure.

He further mentioned that Bollywood icons Dev Anand and Kishore Kumar faced bans from All India Radio and Doordarshan because they refused to comply with Congress government directives during the Emergency.

“Congress misused power to silence voices that opposed them,” Modi remarked, calling it a dark chapter in India’s history.

India’s Economic Rise Under Modi Government

Modi highlighted India’s rapid economic transformation since 2014. He credited his government’s initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for boosting manufacturing, exports, and industrial growth.

Some of the key economic achievements Modi listed include:

• India becoming the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer
• Growth of the steel and defense manufacturing sector
• Expansion of exports in electronics, agrochemicals, and other industries

He emphasized that his government’s pro-business policies have reduced India’s reliance on imports, creating a self-reliant economy.

Modi Accuses Congress of Obstructing OBC and EWS Quotas

PM Modi accused Congress of playing vote-bank politics and blocking constitutional recognition for the OBC (Other Backward Classes) commission for decades.

He highlighted that his government granted constitutional status to the OBC panel and also implemented 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) without affecting existing quotas.

He alleged that Congress’s divisive politics hindered the progress of marginalized communities and warned against attempts to create caste-based rifts for electoral gains.

“Certain political forces are sowing division in society to benefit during elections,” Modi said, reinforcing his commitment to inclusive development.

PM Modi Attacks Congress on Corruption and Nepotism

Modi criticized Congress’s governance model, accusing the party of:

• Promoting nepotism over merit
• Encouraging corruption and favoritism
• Using selective appeasement policies instead of inclusive development

He claimed that for 60 years, India had no alternative governance model, but post-2014, people chose a new path focused on comprehensive growth rather than vote-bank politics.

“For decades, Congress followed appeasement politics. Post-2014, India chose a new path—one of development for all,” Modi asserted.

Middle-Class Aspirations and Tax Reforms

Modi praised India’s middle class, calling them the driving force of the economy. He highlighted how his government’s tax cuts, housing reforms, and education policies have strengthened the middle class.

“The confidence of India’s middle class is at an all-time high, and their aspirations will build a developed India,” he stated.

He pointed out that his government has implemented major economic reforms to empower the middle class, making home ownership and quality education more accessible.

PM Modi contrasted India’s past economic struggles under Congress rule with the nation’s current economic boom. He emphasized that:

• Congress’s misgovernance and corruption led to decades of economic stagnation.
• His government has revived India’s economy, making it one of the fastest-growing in the world.
• Policies like ‘Make in India’ and PLI schemes have strengthened domestic manufacturing and exports.
• The middle class is more empowered and confident about the future.

Modi concluded by urging Parliament to focus on policies that drive economic growth rather than returning to Congress-era governance failures.

“India is now breathing freely and soaring high, free from the grip of Congress’s outdated policies,” he declared, reaffirming his government’s commitment to economic progress and national development.