We are realistic, not obstructionist: Congress

The Congress on Sunday denied it has been obstructionist vis-a-vis the Narendra Modi government, saying its politics reflected the ground realities of India.

"This is not the politics of obstructionism but of realism, so that the ground reality could be shown to them (government)," Congress leader Anand Sharma told reporters here.

His reaction comes in response to Prime Minister Modi's suggestion that the opposition to his government's policies was reactionary in nature.

Speaking at a celebration of his government's two years in office, Modi said on Saturday: "Two things have emerged in the last 15 days. One is 'vikasvad' (development) and the other is 'virodhvad' (obstructionism). What is the reality, people can judge for themselves."

Sharma said the way the prime minister spoke, it seemed as if he has fulfilled all the promises he had made while running for office in 2014.

"He pretended as if he has met the aspirations of the common man... (but) their claims are wrong and the figures reject it," the Congress leader said.

"For the first time in (India's) history, the national investment rate has gone down in relation to the national savings rate," he added.

Sharma said the National Democratic Alliance government had "failed on all fronts" and termed the prime minister as "sapno ka saudagar" (merchant of dreams) for not redeeming the promises he made during the Lok Sabha polls in 2014.

"He (Modi) had promised two crore jobs every year. So, at least four crore jobs should have been created till date. I throw him an open challenge to prove if he has even created four lakh jobs," he said.

There is a gap in what the prime minister says and what he does, the Congress leader said.

Sharma, a former union commerce and industry minister, said that during the last two years the rate of investment had gone down.

He also charged the Modi government with taking credit for schemes launched by the previous United Progressive Alliance government by changing their names.

--IANS

vin/tsb/dg