Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of presiding over the 'murder of democracy' as Modi completed 4,399 consecutive days in office, surpassing India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's record of 4,398 days following the inaugural general election.
Ramesh Dismisses Milestone as 'Dubiously Invented'
Dismissing the feat as a 'dubiously invented' milestone, Ramesh contrasted Modi's tenure with Nehru's formative years in office. He highlighted the nation-building measures undertaken in the immediate post-Independence period while alleging that democratic and educational institutions were now under strain.
Nehru's Achievements Highlighted
In a post on X, the Congress general secretary noted that Nehru assumed office on August 15, 1947 and led a Cabinet that laid the foundations of modern India during the first five years after Independence. Listing what he described as the achievements of 1947–1952, Ramesh said more than 560 princely states were integrated into the Indian Union, the Constitution was debated and adopted, zamindari was abolished, and reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were introduced.
He said several multipurpose irrigation and power projects were launched, scientific and technological institutions were established, including in the field of nuclear energy, and India emerged as an influential voice in global affairs.
Ramesh's comments come as the Bharatiya Janata Party celebrated Modi's record, with party leaders highlighting his governance and development initiatives over the past years. The Congress, however, has consistently criticized the Modi government on issues of democracy, economy, and social harmony.
