Jairam Ramesh targets PM Modi over Lok Sabha speech, flags silence on Iran and economic claims

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday delivered a pointed criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his address in the Lok Sabha, accusing him of sidestepping pressing domestic and global concerns while focusing on self-congratulatory remarks.

In a post on X, Ramesh described the speech as “uncharacteristically short” and alleged it amounted to “a master class in self-boasts, cowardice, and partisan dialogue-baazi.” He raised concerns over what he termed the Prime Minister’s silence on rising tensions in West Asia, particularly the situation involving Iran.

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‎“Not a single word was uttered in condemnation of the continued US-Israeli air assaults on Iran,” Ramesh said. He added that while Iran’s actions targeting Gulf countries and the vital Strait of Hormuz were “completely unacceptable,” the “relentless bombing of Iran with the objective of regime change and state collapse” was equally troubling.
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Ramesh also challenged the government’s claims on economic performance, referring to comments by a former chief economic advisor who cautioned that growth figures during Modi’s tenure may have been overstated. “The PM seems to believe that if he doesn’t engage with this very credible and disturbing report, he can wish it away,” he said.
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Turning to the Prime Minister’s mention of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ramesh criticized the government’s handling of the crisis, calling it “uniquely catastrophic.” He recalled scenes of hardship, including migrant workers trekking long distances to their hometowns, deaths linked to oxygen shortages, and widespread job losses.

‎“The nation cannot forget the deeply depressing scenes which became all too normal then,” he said, adding that stronger preparedness would be essential in the future.
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The remarks come amid intensifying political sparring between the government and the Opposition, with parliamentary debates increasingly shaped by disagreements over foreign policy, economic management, and the legacy of the pandemic response.