"An election speech": Opposition criticises President Murmu's speech while BJP defends its stand

New Delhi: Responding to President Droupadi Murmu's address in the Parliament today, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that it was an election speech and was a one-sided narrative that leaves out several important omissions.

"They have written an election speech for the President to deliver. They have not talked about the things which they have not done. They claimed that they pull people out of poverty but they also talked about giving 81 crore people food grains. This is a one-sided narrative that leaves out several important omissions, which I believe, people will have to think about then they go to vote in Lok Sabha elections," Tharoor told ANI.

Another Congress MP from Assam, Gaurav Gogoi told ANI that it appears that the government tried to hide the truth.

"It appears that the government tried to hide the truth. The way democracy was crushed in Chandigarh mayor elections, in the same way, economic and social issues were crushed in the President's speech. I think the way those close to the PM are being benefitted will continue to get benefits with this year's budget," he said.

Bahujan Samaj Party MP Danish Ali too criticised the President's speech and said that there was nothing special in the speech of President.

"There was nothing special in the speech of the President. The government said that they have given employment, but to whom? Yes, some of the friends of the government have got employment. The government has nothing to tell," he said.

While BJP MP Dilip Ghosh defended his government and said that the youth should be asked about the speech, not the opposition.

"The youths should be asked about today's speech of the President in the Parliament and not the opposition. The youths of the country are talented and they are setting up several startups. Till now everyone (INDIA alliance) was ready to fight PM Modi, but now after their captain is gone, they are fighting among themselves," he said.

In opposition calling the President's address an election speech, Union Minister Ajay Misra Teni said that the Opposition parties have no issues left to raise now after the way the Modi government worked for the development of the country.

Meanwhile, the government has kept the inflation under control despite global challenges and did not allow the burden on people to increase, President Droupadi Murmu said on Wednesday.

"The world has faced two wars and Covid-19 in the past few years. Despite the global crises, my government kept inflation under control across the country and did not put the burden on the citizens," the President said in her address to the joint sitting of Parliament.

The President said 2023 was a historic year for the country when it maintained the momentum to be the fastest-growing major economy.

"The year 2023 was a historic year for India when it grew the fastest among major economies despite the global crisis. India grew about 7.5 per cent for two consecutive quarters," she said. (ANI)