Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, in a scathing accusation, contends that the Modi government, under the guise of development, is extending undue favors to affluent industrialists while absolving corporate bad loans. His assertion includes the claim that the enhancement of facilities at Jamnagar airport, situated in proximity to the Pakistan border and sensitive to defense considerations, is funded by taxpayers solely to cater to the needs of a wealthy industrialist’s guests.
Ramesh alleges that, paradoxically, as the government aligns itself with the affluent, it ruthlessly dismantles the homes of the impoverished. Farmers advocating for a minimum support price (MSP) for their produce, he claims, are met with bullets instead of support.
The Congress leader asserts that Prime Minister Modi, purportedly for the benefit of his affluent associates, has declared the Jamnagar airport an international hub for a limited duration. Moreover, he accuses the government of enlarging the passenger terminal at the expense of taxpayers, all in the name of convenience for wedding attendees.
Despite the airport’s proximity to the Pakistan border and its defense sensitivity, Ramesh claims that private jets of wedding guests have been granted access to the Indian Air Force’s ‘technical area.’ This, according to him, is not an isolated incident but a continuation of Modi’s political career characterized by favoring billionaires.
He contends that the government’s favoritism extends to privatizing six airports, all awarded to Adani, granting two companies control over 90% of India’s airline market, and pardoning a staggering Rs 14.5 lakh crore in bad loans by corporates. Simultaneously, Ramesh laments the demolition of homes under the ‘bulldozer raj’ and farmers facing violent reprisals for demanding a fair MSP.
Ramesh highlights the plight of India’s rail passengers, predominantly comprising the poor and middle class, facing annual ticket price hikes of 10%. Additionally, he points out the removal of sleeper seats to make way for AC 1st class seats and the withdrawal of Rs 3,700 crore in senior concessions. The priorities, as he emphasizes, are crystalline: ‘Suit-boot-loot-jhoot,’ conveyed through the hashtag “#GareebParVaarPoonjipatiSarkar.” It is crucial to note that industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s son is currently celebrating his nuptials in Jamnagar, attracting guests from various corners of the globe.