The government on Thursday presented a white paper that accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance of leaving the economy in “bad shape, nay crisis” after 10 years of the Manmohan Singh government. The document claimed the UPA inherited a “healthy economy” from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government but left the Narendra Modi administration a “non-performing” economy.

The white paper – tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament – comes weeks before a general election the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is widely expected to win.

In it, the BJP said it faced a “hydra-headed challenge” in fixing the Indian economy and “restoring its fundamentals to sound health”, noting it received one of the world’s more fragile economies. “… now, we are among the ‘top five’ (and) making the third highest contribution to global growth…”

“Then, the world lost confidence in India’s economic potential and dynamism. Now, with our economic stability and growth prospects, we inspire hope in others. Then, we had a scam-riddled 12-day Commonwealth Games. Now, we successfully hosted a far-bigger and year-long G20 Presidency in 2023, showcasing India at its best… (and) providing acceptable solutions to global problems.”

READ | “UPA Made Economy Non-Performing In 10 Years”: Centre’s White Paper

The white paper referred to a number of scams and corruption cases that marked the 10 years of the UPA government, including the 2G and Coalgate scandals, as well as economic concerns like double-digit inflation, the foreign exchange crisis, and a “policy paralysis” that affected investment.

“Then, we had 2G scam. Now, we have extensive coverage of the population under 4G, with the lowest rates and the world’s fastest rollout of 5G in 2023. Then, we had the Coalgate scam. Now, we have built systems for transparent and objective auctions to harness natural resources…”

READ | Full Text Of Government’s White Paper On UPA’s “Economic Mismanagement”

“Then, we had double-digit inflation. Now, inflation has been brought down to (a) little over five per cent. Then, we had a foreign exchange crisis. Now, we have record foreign exchange reserves of over USD 620 billion. Then, we had ‘policy-paralysis’; infrastructure was not a priority. Now, (there is) the virtuous cycle of investment, growth, employment and entrepreneurship, and savings…”

READ | “UPA’s Term Replete With Decision Stasis Examples”: What White Paper Says

“In sum, the progress achieved in the ten years of our government has overcome the malaise and paralysis of the previous ten years of the UPA government. In 2024, confidence and purpose have replaced the diffidence and drift of 2014…” the BJP’s white paper declared.

The white paper was announced by Ms Sitharaman last week, when she presented the interim budget. The combative Finance Minister said “this is the right time” to present the document.

“In 2014, we took over an economy in such a bad state. There was economic paralysis and corruption… we needed a white paper then. But at the time Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) put the people first,” she said in Parliament.

Ms Sitharaman’s announcement was “welcomed” by the Congress’ P Chidambaram, who was Finance Minister in the Manmohan Singh government from 2012 to 2014. “We are not afraid…” he said.

Mr Chidambaram, however, said he had only one condition – the paper must be written by an independent body, one not affiliated with either the BJP or the Congress, or any government agency.

“Then let us see whose performance is better…” he told a news channel.

READ | White Paper Vs Black As BJP, Congress Spar Over 10-Year Performance

Meanwhile, the Congress today hit back with a ‘white paper’ of its own – only they called it a ‘black paper‘. Released by party boss Mallikarjun Kharge, the document flagged increasing unemployment, a drop in the average GDP growth rate, and vacant government posts in the Modi administration.

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A ‘white’ vs ‘black’ war dominated Indian politics Thursday with the government and the opposition releasing competing factsheets on the condition of the economy during the 10 years of the Congress-led UPA and the past decade, during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP has been in power.

The Congress presented its document – a ‘black paper’ titled ’10 saal anyay kaal‘, or ’10 years of an unjust rule’ – in which it flagged issues such as the cost of living crisis, rising unemployment, and the subversion of institutions, including the judiciary and the press.

The document also pointed to protests by farmers – which made headlines in 2020/21 after violent clashes with security personnel, and again this morning – that have “plagued” the country.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, releasing the 54-page ‘black paper’, indicated opposition had released it because “when we speak about failures of the government it is not given importance”.

“Whenever PM presents his views in Parliament, he hides his failures. Therefore, we thought of bringing out a ‘black paper’ (to) tell the public about the failures of the government,” he said.

#WATCH | Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge releases ‘Black Paper’ against the Modi government pic.twitter.com/cxKvD9xyNO

— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2024

“The Modi government is silent on price rise… prices of petrol, diesel and daily essentials has reached record levels,” Mr Kharge told reporters. He also pointed to the “disastrous” demonetisation of 2016, the caste census row, and crimes against women.

The Congress boss also said the “failures” of the Modi government over the past 10 years reflected a period of “injustice” and “discrimination” against states not ruled by the PM’s BJP.

“Modiji, when you were Chief Minister of Gujarat (when the UPA was in power at the centre), you used to talk about tax rights of Gujaratis… then you said states should get 50 per cent tax. You also said people of Gujarat pay Rs 48,600 crore tax and get only 2.5 per cent back.”

That jab comes amid a fight between over allocation of funds, including devolution of taxes. The Congress government in Karnataka and the ruling Left Front in Kerala both protested this today.

He also attacked the BJP for toppling elected governments – the reference was to Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, where the Congress was ousted after MLAs switched sides amid pay-out rumours.

“They are using money to finish democracy. They made 411 MLAs cross over to their side. We had elected governments in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh… You know what happened,” he said.

#WATCH | On releasing ‘Black Paper’ against Modi govt, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge says,” There is a danger to democracy in the country…In last 10 years, 411 MLAs were taken on their by the BJP. They toppled so many Congress governments. They are finishing… pic.twitter.com/9oOhYKkyvW

— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2024

The trading of papers comes weeks before a general election, with each side jostling for top-of-mind recall when nearly 95 crore Indians head to the polls in April/May.

READ | “UPA Made Economy Non-Performing”: Government’s White Paper

The government’s white paper – proposed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last week and tabled in Parliament this afternoon – ripped into the Congress, accusing it of mishandling the economy through policy paralysis and corruption, leading to crises like double-digit inflation.

READ | “Then And Now…”: White Paper Summary As Government Shreds UPA

In it, the government said it faced a “hydra-headed challenge” in fixing the economy and “restoring its fundamentals to sound health”, noting it inherited a “fragile” economy now in the top five.

With input from agencies

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