Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

Hitting out at the Narendra Modi government’s economic policies, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (January 21, 2025) asserted that real development is when there is a fair environment for business, a fair tax system, workers’ income increases and everyone progresses.

“The truth of Modi Ji’s developed India: Your hard work, whose profit? The wheel of the country’s economy is turning with your sweat and blood, but are you getting your fair share in it? Just think,” Mr. Gandhi said in a post on X.

The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha said that the share of the manufacturing sector in the economy has gone down to the lowest level in 60 years and due to this, people are struggling for employment.

Mr. Gandhi added that wrong policies in the agriculture sector have worsened the condition of farmers and farm labourers.

The real income of workers has remained stagnant or decreased in the last five years and with skyrocketing inflation, even the salaried class is forced to take loans for their needs, he said.

“The harmful goods and services tax (GST) and income tax have made life difficult for the poor and the middle class, while corporate loans are being waived off,” the former Congress chief said, adding, ”real development is when everyone progresses – there is a fair environment for business, there is a fair tax system and the income of workers increases. Only this will make the country prosperous and strong”.

White T-shirt movement

On Sunday, Mr. Gandhi had announced the launch of a ‘White T-shirt Movement,’ championing the rights of the masses and had accused the Modi government of turning its back on the poor.

“If you believe in economic justice, oppose rising wealth inequalities, fight for social equality, reject all forms of discrimination, and strive for peace and stability in our country, wear your white T-shirts and join the movement,”Mr. Gandhi said in a video posted on his X handle.

In the run up to the upcoming Union Budget, the Congress has been demanding tax relief for the middle class, income support for the poor and measures to boost investment.