New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday targeted the government over fuel price rise, unemployment, and communal violence by comparing graphs of India and Sri Lanka on the three subjects. In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi said that India looked a “lot like Sri Lanka” and the Centre should not distract people from such pressing issues.
“Distracting people won’t change the facts. India looks a lot like Sri Lanka,” tweeted Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress party has been cornering the government over the issue of price rise and unemployment saying that India’s situation is going the Sri Lanka way, where the prime minister had to resign in view of the deteriorating situation.
Sri Lanka is witnessing its worst economic crisis since independence which has led towards nationwide anti-incumbent protests. Shortage of foreign exchange, decline in tourism due to Covid-19 and Sri Lankan government’s decision to ban chemical fertilisers in order to make the country's agriculture “100 percent organic” have been attributed as the major factors for the island nation’s instability.
Following nationwide protests that were ensued by violence between pro-government and anti-government groups last week which left nine people dead and around 300 injured, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa tendered his resignation after which Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed as the new premier.
But Wickremesinghe too has been facing backlash as anti-government protestors alleged him of striking a political deal with Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Moreover they are also demanding Mahinda Rajapaksa’s resignation whom they are holding responsible for the violent clashes.