May 14th 2024.
During a press conference in Bhubaneswar, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh expressed his belief that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not receiving widespread support, but is instead facing backlash for his divisive language. Ramesh claimed that the PM's recent speeches indicate a sense of tension and confusion, as he has realized that various groups, such as farmers, youth, laborers, women, and backward classes, are unhappy with his leadership. Instead of addressing their concerns, Ramesh accused the PM of using rhetoric to distract from the real issues at hand.
According to Ramesh, the recent elections in 379 Lok Sabha seats have shown that the BJP's popularity is waning in certain regions of India. He noted that while the party may be "saaf" (clear) in South India, they are only "half" as successful in the North, West, and East. Ramesh confidently stated that the INDIA bloc will emerge victorious in this election, signaling a desire for change among the Indian people.
The Congress leader emphasized that his party's main goal in this election is to protect the Constitution and democracy. He referred to the current state of affairs in India as "dhantantra" (dictatorship), and warned against the dangers of allowing this to continue. Ramesh also took the opportunity to criticize the ruling party in Odisha, accusing them of engaging in a "fake fight" with the BJP. He alleged that the BJD has actually been supportive of the BJP in the past, despite their claims of opposition.
Ramesh singled out Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, questioning his support for the BJP in Delhi and his role in passing controversial Bills in Parliament. He also accused the BJD of betraying the people of Odisha by not fully implementing the Forest Rights Act and Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Rules. The Congress leader urged Patnaik to clarify his stance on a caste-based census and extending the 50% cap on reservations, both of which are important issues for marginalized communities.
In closing, Ramesh reminded the public that the Congress is the only alternative to the "alliance" between the BJP and BJD in Odisha. He stressed that voting for one is essentially voting for the other, and urged the people of Odisha to choose the Congress as the true opposition to the current ruling party. The former Union minister also highlighted the lack of investment in the development of the Odia language under the Modi government, while questioning the allocation of funds for Sanskrit. He reminded the public that the Manmohan Singh government had previously recognized six languages, including Odia, as classical languages.
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