Congress: Reforms needed, but 11-year inertia persists

New Delhi

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday called for urgent second-generation economic reforms, stating that India is facing a slowdown due to the Modi government's lack of vision and decisive action over the past 11 years. Marking the 34th anniversary of the landmark 1991 liberalisation budget, Kharge praised the reforms introduced under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and Finance Minister Manmohan Singh, which, he said, transformed India’s economy and uplifted the middle class.

Kharge accused the Modi government of pushing the country into economic distress with what he termed disastrous policies. He said inequality is widening, wages are stagnant, household savings are shrinking, and youth unemployment is rising. He also claimed that the government is favouring corporates at the cost of the middle class and the poor, while trade tensions threaten both agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

Kharge stressed that robust economic reforms are urgently needed to boost growth and improve lives. However, he alleged that the government has shown inertia in taking bold steps.

The Congress leader emphasized that the 1991 reforms under the Congress-led government were a turning point for the country, laying the foundation for inclusive growth and helping lift millions out of poverty. Today, he said, a similar transformation is needed, but the current government is failing to act.

The Congress continues to criticize the Modi administration on key economic issues such as rising prices, stagnant wages, and low private investment, saying they are severely affecting ordinary citizens.