Why has President Murmu remained silent on inflation, Manipur and minorities, asks Kharge

The President cannot let the government off the hook by instead advising the opposition to rise above partisan politics, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said in his first reaction to Droupadi Murmu’s speech in the Joint Houses of Parliament on Thursday, June 27.

Pointing out that in the last five years, there have been at least 12 cases of paper leaks in the 66 entrance tests conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which involved 75 lakh candidates, the Congress leader accused the government of shirking its responsibility. Pointing fingers at the Opposition for allegedly “politicising” the issue does not absolve the government, he said.

The Congress leader also expressed disappointment over President Murmu’s speech, which made no mention of rampant food price inflation, lingering conflicts in Manipur or increasing mob attacks and measures taken by the State against minorities.

Manipur has seen an exponential rise in cases of extortion and kidnapping, but the government, which prepared the president’s speech, appears to be ignoring the situation. Kharge also expressed concern over increasing violent attacks on Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis in BJP-ruled states, which was also not mentioned in the President’s speech.