Congress' questions to govt bundle of lies, and deception: BJP

New Delhi, PTI

The BJP on Friday rejected the Congress' criticism of the Narendra Modi government on its ninth anniversary as a "bundle of lies and mountain of deception" and said the questions are born out of "pathological hatred" of the prime minister.

Former Union minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad rebutted the Congress' charges against the government on various issues and asserted that the Indian economy has risen from the "fragile five" position to become the fifth largest in the world.

The Congress on Friday asked PM Modi nine questions on issues such as rising prices, unemployment and farmers' income, and demanded an apology for the "betrayal" during his tenure. The Opposition party also said the government should mark this day as "Maafi Diwas".

Hitting back on the issue of national security, BJP leader Prasad said India's land was grabbed by the Chinese when the Congress was in power while the country showed its mettle in eastern Ladakh during clashes with the army of the neighbouring country.

While the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has boosted border infrastructure, the Congress deliberately kept it in poor shape, he claimed.

Prasad also attacked Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, accusing him of lowering the discourse with his choice of language in attacking Modi.

"They should rise above their hatred for Modi. The Congress was badly defeated the last two times and will suffer a similar fate in 2024," he said.

The BJP leader also described the Congress' charge of "Covid mismanagement" against the government as the "height of shamelessness" and claimed the whole world has recognised India's handling of the pandemic as the "best".

Oxygen express trains were run, health infrastructure augmented and the entire country was administered vaccines, he said, adding derisively that Congress leaders too were inoculated.