What’s the job of a Prime Minister?

This fundamental question is troubling the Congress amid a parliamentary election that is being described as the most critical political contest in the history of independent India, with both the Opposition parties and the intelligentsia of the opinion that constitutional democracy is at stake.

While the Congress leadership has been ceaselessly raising the question of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s penchant for diversionary tactics to escape the real concerns, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday articulated the unease with Modi’s attitude, wondering what will happen to the country if real questions aren’t tackled with sincerity.

In a post on X, Priyanka said: “It is now for the citizens to think where will the country go if the person occupying the highest post will deploy all the resources at his command to suppress the Opposition parties raising genuine questions, instead of solving the real problems the nation is grappling with. This is the time for introspection and show awareness.”

She added: “The rich is getting richer. The poor is slipping into the pit. Essential items are on fire. Survival has become difficult. The average income of the regular employees
was Rs 12,000 per month, which has fallen after ten years (Rs 10,925 in 2022). Why are we regressing?

“The Prime Minister is worried about his imaginary problems inside his ivory tower. He shows such intolerance of political criticism. His intention is usually to divert attention from real issues, burying the voice of millions beneath the propaganda.”

Addressing a public rally in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh on Thursday afternoon, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge pulled no punches: “Modi is fake, a liar. Don’t fall into his trap. He is not worried about the nation’s interest. He is obsessed with power; he threatens opponents using ED-CBI and income tax and abuses the Congress. He talks against corruption and embraces all the tainted leaders from other parties. He doesn’t speak about Chinese intrusion...”