The main opposition Congress is set to bring a ‘black paper’ to counter the Narendra Modi government’s ‘white paper’ on its performance over the past 10 years. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge will be releasing the ‘black paper’ shortly, sources have said.

The move is aimed at countering the BJP government’s move to bring a white paper, listing its achievements since it came to power in 2014. In her budget speech on February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced that the government will table a ‘white paper’ in both Houses of Parliament “to look at where we were till 2014 and where we are now”. The only objective behind this move, she said, “was to draw lessons from the mismanagement of those years”.

The short budget session has seen heated exchanges between the treasury and the Opposition benches. Prime Minister Modi has launched attacks on Opposition leaders during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address.

The Congress president, who was the Prime Minister’s prime target in Rajya Sabha yesterday, hit back in a post on X.

Accusing the Prime Minister of saying “countless false things” against the previous UPA governments, he flagged the rise in unemployment rate, drop in average GDP growth rate and vacant government posts under the incumbent government.

“Despite being in power for 10 years, instead of talking about himself, he only criticises the Congress party. Even today he did not talk about price rise, unemployment and economic inequality?” Mr Kharge said, adding, “‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ is only to spread LIES!”

BJP leader Jayant Sinha has, meanwhile, said the government’s ‘white paper’ will highlight the country’s “poor economic condition” when the Congress-led UPA left power and how the BJP dispensation brought the turnaround.

Participating in a debate on the interim Budget in Lok Sabha, Mr Sinha said India was among ‘fragile five’ economies globally when the UPA was in power in 2013.

“India’s GDP growth had slowed down to 5 per cent, inflation had risen to 10 per cent, NPAs of banks had risen to 10 per cent. The country was facing balance of payment crisis,” the BJP MP said. He said that the Narendra Modi government had brought the turnaround.

“In the white paper, we will clarify what was the position of economy (before 2014)…and how we have tackled the economic problems,” Mr Sinha said.

Massive traffic jams have started on Delhi-Noida borders as security personnel search vehicles in view of a protest call by farmers in Noida and Greater Noida. Besides cops, personnel from Rapid Action Force have also been called in to keep the situation under control. Riot control vehicles are on the spot and drones are being used to get an all-round view. 

Three years after their historic protest on Delhi’s borders, farmers are gearing up for another round of agitation in the national capital over a host of issues. Police in neighbouring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have made arrangements to block separate groups of protesting farmers. Cement barriers, sandbags and barbed wires are in place and prohibitory orders imposed to ensure farmers can’t enter Delhi.

Two separate protests are on the cards. One of them starts today and comprises farmers from Noida and Greater Noida. These farmers are protesting for months in demand of higher compensation and developed plots against their land acquired by the local development authorities. They have decided to march to Parliament today to press their demands.

Noida police have clamped prohibitory orders to stop the farmers from gathering at the borders or entering Delhi. They have also issued a traffic advisory, warning commuters of diversions due to the movement of farmers.

In the order announcing the curbs, senior police officer Hridesh Katheriya said “the possibility of anti-national elements disturbing peace cannot be ruled out”.

In a video message shared by news agency ANI, senior officer Shivhari Meena said heavy force has been deployed at all Noida-Delhi borders. “All borders have been sealed for 24 hours. All vehicles going towards Delhi are being checked. We are also taking steps to ensure that the common man does not face any problem. We are in talks with the farmers,” he said.

On the national capital’s borders with Haryana, preparations are on to block the farmers when they try to enter Delhi on Tuesday. Cement barriers, which look similar to the ones used during the 2020-21 protest, have been brought in and sandbags can also be spotted on the Shambhu border, although force is yet to be deployed.

Haryana police have also issued notices to farmers, asking them not to join the protest and warning them of “huge losses” if they do.

The farmers in Haryana and Punjab, who have planned a tractor march on Tuesday, have several demands, including a law to guarantee Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, pension for farmers, crop insurance and the quashing of FIRs registered against farmers during the 2020 protest.

Haryana police have also sought assistance from central forces to block the farmers on its borders with Punjab. 

Significantly, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha that lead the 2020 protest is not part of this protest. This is being led by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (apolitical). Several outfits from Haryana are also expected to join in.