As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unveiled its election manifesto, ‘Sankalp Patra’, for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024, leaders of the Congress party, and Aam Aadmi party (AAP) have voiced strong criticism of the ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ named poll pitch. The leaders of the opposition parties have underscored the "unfulfilled promises" and questioned the credibility of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 


Expressing skepticism, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said, “He (PM Narendra Modi) had said that he will double farmers' income. He had said that he would increase MSP and give a legal guarantee - this is the guarantee. He didn't do any such big work in his tenure that would benefit all the people of the country.”


“The youth is looking for jobs. Inflation is rising. He is not worried about inflation, unemployment. In 10 years, this man couldn't do anything for the poor. It is not correct to trust his manifesto. It proves that he has nothing to offer people,” Kharge said in a reaction to BJP’s manifesto as reported by ANI. 






In response to the saffron party's 'Sankalp Patra', Congress leader Pawan Khera, at a press conference, said, “None of the govt before this has suffered the 'disease' of shifting goalposts. What you said in 2014, you gave no account on that in 2019 and you put new 'jumlas' and goalposts in 2019 and in 2024 you're talking about 2047.”


“They (BJP) have written in the manifesto that they'll host the 2036 Olympics, where you'll be, will you be there in the govt? You should give the account of 5 years. They lie with so much clarity but now that they have lied so much that no one trusts them,” he said. 


“He (PM Modi) said in an interview that I colour my hair white, 'hujur aap sirf baal safed nahi karte hai, aap jhooth bhi bade safedposh dhng se pesh karte hain',” Khera added further. 






Echoing similar sentiments, Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot criticised BJP’s reliance on PM Modi’s persona in its political narrative. 


“I think the situations that were in 2014 & 2019 have changed now. All the promises that were made remained promises only. There have been so many issues in between (protests by farmers and wrestlers), that the BJP has lost its credibility. For how long they'll keep doing politics in the name of PM Modi?” Gehlot asked.  


“The decentralisation of power has completely collapsed. They are talking about 2047, even about a thousand years, but what will happen in 100 days after they come to power remains a secret. They aren't replying to what will happen to unemployment, inflation, electoral bond scam,” he added further, as reported by ANI. 






Congress leader Manish Tewari said, “What people want to know is why the common man is reeling under the burden of inflation. What people want to know is the MNREGA budget, which is an indicator of rural distress, has gone up from 33,000 crores to almost 90,000 crores in the past 10 years”. 






Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dostara joined the chorus of criticism, labelling the saffron party’s manifesto promises as “mere rhetoric”. “With what face BJP is releasing the manifesto. The promises they made in the last 10 years in the context of curbing inflation, improving economic policy, or bringing black money; in Rajasthan, the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) was to be announced as a national project that didn't happen as well. Their promises are 'jumla.',” Dostara was quoted as saying by ANI. 






Highlighting the “strak disparity” between the saffron party’s promises and actual outcomes, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari ridiculed the BJP’s ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ campaign within the manifesto. 


“One can only laugh about it instead of giving any other reaction. PM Modi himself said about 15 lakh to everyone, 2 cr jobs but unemployment rose by three times, inflation broke the 38 years of record. If there is someone who lost credibility, it's PM Modi,” he told ANI. 


“A person who has no guarantee of himself, how can one comment on guarantees made by him (Jis aadmi ki khud guarantee nahi hai uski guarantee ki kya baat ho),” he said in reference to PM Modi. 


“Those who are poor, must be helped, Congress is determined in this regard, but why the number of the poor have increased, if someone is guilty, it's Modi's govt,” he added further. 






'Jumla Patra': AAP Criticises BJP's 'Sankalp Patra'


Reacting to BJP's election manifesto, AAP leader and Delhi minister Atishi said, "Today the BJP has given the 'Jumla Patra' to the entire country. Even after running the government for 10 years, they were not able to fulfil even one of their promises."


"They had promised the youth that 2 crore jobs would be given every year but today the country's unemployment figure is the highest in the history of this country...The amount spent on Ayushman Bharat in the entire country is less than the health budget of Delhi. The health budget in Delhi is Rs 9000 crore, but only Rs 8000 crore has been spent on Ayushman Bharat in the entire country," she added. 


Atishi, in her statement, further said, "Does PM Modi have the courage to say, like Arvind Kejriwal, 'Vote for me if I have worked, and don't vote if you think I haven't done the work". 






The BJP released its manifesto, Sankalp Patra, for the Lok Sabha elections on Sunday morning from its New Delhi headquaters. The manifesto, named 'Modi Ki Guarantee' has elements to support the roadmap for "visit bharat". The manifesto focuses deeply on welfare and development, things that have been highlighted throughout its poll campaigning. Click here to read more. 


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