Congress General Secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government of abandoning its anti-corruption plank, alleging that the Prime Minister’s 2014 promise of “Na Khaunga, Na Khane Doonga” (I will neither indulge in corruption nor allow it) had been undermined by a series of alleged scams, cronyism and governance failures over the past 12 years.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Ramesh claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in May 2014 on the promise of clean governance, but asserted that the pledge soon proved to be “a hoax.” Citing the November 8, 2016 demonetisation, he recalled that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had described the move as “organised loot and legalised plunder.”
The Congress leader alleged that the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) was merged with ONGC to conceal an alleged Rs 20,000-crore scam dating back to Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister. He also described the now-scrapped electoral bonds scheme as a “gigantic Rs 4 lakh crore ‘Chanda Do, Dhanda Lo’ scam.”
Ramesh further referred to the Congress’s “Hum Adani Ke Hain Kaun” campaign, claiming it had raised 100 unanswered questions regarding the relationship between the government and the Adani Group. He also renewed the party’s criticism of the Rafale fighter aircraft deal, saying key questions remained unanswered, and described the PM CARES Fund as lacking transparency and accountability.
He alleged that reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had highlighted irregularities in flagship schemes, including Ayushman Bharat and the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, despite what he termed attempts to weaken the national auditor.
Enumerating what he called recent instances of corruption and misuse of office, Ramesh referred to the alleged theft of offerings at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, saying it had “shocked the nation’s conscience.” He also questioned the continuation in office of the Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh despite allegations against them, accused the BJP of engineering defections in opposition parties through financial inducements, and alleged that a Union Minister of State had continued in office despite receiving a subsidy under a scheme administered by his own ministry.
The Congress leader also raised questions over the abrupt removal of four close aides of the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, saying the development warranted scrutiny. He further alleged that decisions relating to the E20 ethanol-blending programme were benefiting the family of the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, and claimed that members of the Delhi Chief Minister’s family were actively involved in governance despite holding no official positions.
Ramesh also targeted Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging that the Prime Minister had continued to support him despite what he described as a compromised examination system that had failed millions of students.
Summing up his criticism, Ramesh alleged that the Modi government had substituted its promise of clean governance with a culture of concealment.
“Mr. Modi has delivered Minimum Governance, Maximum Cover-Ups. With him it has always been ‘Khaunga, Khane Doonga, Aur Khilaunga’,” he said.
The BJP has consistently denied the Congress’s allegations, maintaining that the Modi government has strengthened transparency, leveraged technology to improve governance, and taken firm measures to curb corruption.