Congress releases 272 questions, 117 complaints targeting PM Modi, ECI

New Delhi/Hyderabad: On Friday, Congress released a compilation of 272 questions the party had asked prime minister Narendra Modi in the last 72 days of the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign.

The compilation also contained a list of 117 complaints the party had sent to the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding alleged poll violations in the last 77 days of the election season; 14 of them are against PM Modi.

The party released the compilation of questions as a book – 72 days, 272 Questions, 0 Jawab, Bhaag Modi Bhaag.

The book was released by Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, party’s media and publicity department head Pawan Khera and AICC social media department head Supriya Shrinate in New Delhi.

What does the book contain?

The book contains details of issues from every state in the country that need to be addressed by the Union government. Thirty-one states of the country were mentioned in the book and questions were raised on the pending issues in each state.

The questions are about public issues raised in the last 72 days, said Jairam Ramesh. However, since these questions were not answered by PM Modi, they are listed in the book, he said.

Questions about development in AP and Telangana

The book has raised many specific issues concerning the growth of the states.

In the section for Andhra Pradesh, a question about the Kadapa Steel Plant was mentioned. The Kadapa Steel Plant was declared technically and economically unfeasible in July 2023. Why was this declared after nine years of being in power, the Congress asked in its compilation.

In Telangana, regarding the Central funds, the Congress asked the government to explain the delay in releasing Rs 4,000 crores of GST compensation, Rs 24,205 crores as recommended by NITI Aayog and Rs 1,800 crores for the development of backward districts.

Similarly, other questions for each state were centred around development affairs, among others. The book ends with a picture of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

117 complaints to ECI

As per the book, the Congress party has filed 117 complaints to the ECI, with a maximum being against the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The first complaint was on March 13, 2024, and the last one was on May 29, 2024. Here’s an overview of the complaints mentioned in the book:

- 29 complaints were against and related to the depiction of PM Modi of which 14 are direct complaints against the speeches made by him.

- 22 complaints were against Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath of which eight are direct complaints against him.

- 11 complaints were against Union home minister Amit Shah of which three are direct complaints against him.

- 21 complaints were against the social media handles of BJP and those sharing misleading, misinformation, objectionable and malafide videos.

- 16 complaints were against false, misleading and defamatory advertisements.

- One complaint was against BJP president JP Nadda, Anurag Thakur, Manoj Tiwari and Smriti Irani, and two complaints against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Clear and decisive mandate

Jairam Ramesh recalled that a copy of the Constitution was carried by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to public meetings to stress that the Congress guarantees are to protect social justice. INDIA bloc is going to get a clear and decisive mandate on June 4, stressed Jairam Ramesh.

with inputs from PTI