In a counter move against the BJP-led Centre’s ‘white paper’ comparing the economic performance of the Congress-led UPA government’s 10 years with that of the NDA government, the Congress party released a ‘black paper’ titled ’10 Saal Anyay Kaal’ on Thursday, highlighting what the party perceives as the failures of the Modi government.
During a press conference held in Delhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge presented the ‘black paper’ titled ’10 Saal Anyay Kaal’. The document focussed on critical issues such as unemployment, price rise, farmers’ distress, the failure to conduct a caste census, and alleged injustice to women.
This move precedes the Narendra Modi government’s presentation of a ‘white paper’ set to be tabled in the Lok Sabha today, addressing the alleged “mismanagement” of the economy before 2014, with the intention of drawing lessons from that period.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal confirmed the development, stating that the white paper was part of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget speech on February 1. He stated the need to inform the country about the state of the economy during the UPA’s tenure, noting that the white paper would also be tabled in the Rajya Sabha.
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During the press conference, Kharge took a direct swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of deflecting inquiries about rising prices by invoking historical figures such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
The Congress president further accused the BJP-led government of posing a threat to democracy, claiming that it had neglected the issue of unemployment and exhibited discrimination against non-BJP states over the last decade. Kharge voiced concerns about the BJP’s alleged involvement in toppling Congress governments, citing the takeover of 411 MLAs in the past 10 years.
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“We are raising the main issue of unemployment, which the BJP never talks about… There is discrimination being done with non-BJP states like Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana,” Kharge mentioned during the press conference,according to The Indian Express.
Concluding his address, Kharge exuded confidence in the Congress’s capacity to lead the nation out of what he described as the “darkness of injustice” imposed by the BJP, stating that the party played a crucial role in ensuring India’s independence and would continue to fight for justice in 2024.
What is white and black paper?
A white paper is a government or authoritative report that provides comprehensive information and analysis on a particular policy, issue, or proposal. It is typically used to present government policies, highlight a problem, or propose solutions. Its main motive is to educate the public, policymakers, and other stakeholders about a specific topic.
Unlike white papers, black papers are typically critical and focus on exposing what the issuing party sees as failures, injustices, or inadequacies in governance. They aim to draw attention to specific issues and may include recommendations for improvement.
In some cases, it may refer to documents released by political parties or organizations that criticise or highlight perceived failures, shortcomings, or issues in the policies or actions of the government.