‘9 saal 9 sawaal’ for Modi govt; Tripura most deprived state in 9 years, claims Congress

As part of the nationwide campaign against 9th year celebration of Narendra Modi government in centre, the state union of opposition Congress on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Modi nine questions on issues such as rising prices, unemployment and farmers' income etc.

Addressing a press conference here at Congress Bhavan on Tuesday afternoon, Pradesh Congress president and MLA Birajit Sinha accompanied by senior party leader Ashish Kumar Saha demanding an apology for the "betrayal" during his tenure, they asked  a list of questions under '9 saal, 9 sawaal' and claimed that BJP built a “9-year-old building on false promises and the plight of the public!”

Birajit Sinha said that the Congress wanted to ask BJP and PM Modi, "Why is it that inflation and unemployment are skyrocketing in India? Why have the rich become richer and the poor poorer? Why is public property being sold to PM Modi's friends, even as economic disparities are increasing?"

On the issue of farmers, the grand old party asked why is it that the agreements made with farmers while repealing the three "black" farm laws have not been honoured and why has the minimum support price not been legally guaranteed. Birajit also questioned why didn't farmers' income double over the last nine years as promised by the Modi government.

The third question was about alleged corruption and favour to Adani group , asking why the prime minister is putting people's hard-earned savings in LIC and SBI at risk to benefit his "friend" Adani.

"Why are you letting thieves escape? Why are you silent on rampant corruption in BJP-ruled states, and why are you letting Indians suffer," said Sinha reading their poster of '9 saal, 9 sawaal’ .

On the issue of national security, the Congress asked "why is it that even after your clean chit to China in 2020, they continue to occupy Indian territory" and  the party also asked why deliberate "politics of hatred" for electoral gains was being used and alleged that an atmosphere of fear in society are being prevailing.

Congress leaders also asked "Why are you silent on the atrocities against women, Dalits, SC, ST, OBCs and minorities? Why are you ignoring the demand for a caste census," the sixth question read.

The seventh question was on the alleged misuse of democratic institutions to take revenge against the opposition and the practice of politics of revenge.

The Congress asked the reason behind the alleged weakening of the schemes meant for the welfare of the poor, needy and tribals by cutting the 100 mandays and also asked why not the government declare it in budget provisions.

In the ninth question, Congress leaders asked "Why is it that despite the tragic deaths of over 40 lakh people due to COVID-19, the Modi government has refused to compensate their families?

Speaking in the press meet, Ashish Kumra Saha said that unemployment has been at its highest since independence and in Tripura its growing daily in record number. Shaha also alleged that after the passing of three months and despite assurance given by the Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, the post-poll violence continues and is unabated. He said that many poor people are suffering due to the stoppage of their social pension deliberately by the state government. 

Both leaders said that Tripura is the most deprived state of the country during the last nine years and soon Congress will launch statewide agitation against the ‘double-engine’ government demanding peace and employment.