’12 Years Of Headlines, Not Results’

As the Narendra Modi-led government marked two years of its third term on 9 June, the Congress intensified its attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), unveiling a detailed “promise versus reality” report that questions the Centre’s performance across a range of sectors over the past 12 years.

The 75-page report, prepared by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) research department, seeks to counter the government’s achievements narrative by highlighting what the opposition describes as a widening gap between promises made since 2014 and the actual outcomes experienced by citizens. The document examines issues including employment, inflation, economic growth, education, welfare, infrastructure, democratic institutions and foreign policy.

Releasing the report in New Delhi, AICC research department chairman Rajeev Gowda and Congress leader Amitabh Dubey alleged that the government had relied heavily on publicity campaigns while failing to deliver meaningful improvements in people’s lives.

“Over the last 12 years, promises have been accompanied by big announcements, grand statements and headlines,” Gowda said. “But the reality is that none of those headlines have translated into anything that is meaningfully transforming the lives of ordinary people.”

The Congress leaders argued that the BJP’s anniversary celebrations were focused more on image-building than addressing the concerns of citizens struggling with unemployment, inflation and economic uncertainty.

Employment, Welfare and Economic Concerns

A significant portion of the report focuses on employment, with Congress claiming that job creation has failed to keep pace with the aspirations of India’s growing youth population. According to Gowda, unemployment among educated young people remains a major concern despite repeated government assurances regarding employment generation.

“Millions of young Indians were promised opportunities in a fast-growing economy, yet many continue to struggle to secure stable employment,” he said.

The party claimed that a large share of graduates remain unemployed and argued that urban youth continue to face limited job prospects. It also questioned the availability of permanent salaried positions for young job seekers entering the workforce.

Congress further accused the government of failing to adequately support women’s economic participation. Referring to global gender indicators, Gowda argued that women remain underrepresented in the workforce despite promises of inclusive and equitable growth.

The opposition also targeted welfare schemes, particularly the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Gowda alleged that benefits available under the programme had gradually been reduced, weakening the support originally promised to women from economically weaker households.

“Ten years ago, Indian women were promised freedom from dangerous and unhealthy cooking methods. Today, that promise is being steadily diluted,” he said.

The party also raised concerns about the condition of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which it described as the backbone of India’s economy and a major source of employment. According to Congress, many small businesses continue to face difficulties following policy decisions such as demonetisation and other economic disruptions.

“MSMEs are the backbone of India’s economy and its biggest job creators, yet tens of thousands of them have shut down,” Gowda said, claiming that many enterprises have struggled to recover from recent economic shocks.

Inflation, Education and Democracy Among Major Criticisms

Congress leaders also questioned the government’s handling of inflation and the broader economy. Amitabh Dubey argued that rising prices of essential goods have increased the burden on households and undermined promises of economic relief.

He pointed to increases in the prices of cooking gas, fuel, milk and pulses, saying that ordinary families continue to face mounting expenses.

Dubey also criticised the government’s economic targets, noting that earlier commitments to transform India into a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024 remain unfulfilled.

“The impact of the Modi government’s policies is visible in the fact that foreign investors are leaving and even Indian industrialists are choosing to invest abroad,” he said.

According to the Congress leader, slowing private investment, capital outflows and pressure on the rupee point to deeper structural challenges within the economy.

The opposition also challenged the government’s claims regarding India’s global standing, arguing that recent international developments have exposed economic and strategic vulnerabilities despite official assertions of growing influence on the world stage.

Infrastructure and public services also featured prominently in the report. While acknowledging significant government spending announcements, Congress claimed that many flagship projects have yet to produce noticeable improvements in everyday life.

Dubey cited overcrowded trains, concerns surrounding railway safety and delays in implementing safety systems such as Kavach as examples of what he described as the disconnect between official claims and ground realities.

The party additionally expressed concern over the state of democratic institutions. Gowda alleged that public confidence in electoral and democratic processes was being weakened and raised questions about voter participation and electoral transparency.

Education emerged as another major area of criticism. Congress accused the government of failing to address repeated examination-related controversies, including paper leaks, administrative lapses and technical disruptions affecting students across the country.

“The education system was supposed to be modernised. Instead, students are facing paper leaks, technical failures and uncertainty,” Dubey said.

Claiming that repeated examination irregularities have damaged confidence in the education system, the party renewed its demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

“Our demand is clear: education minister Dharmendra Pradhan should immediately resign,” Dubey said.

Through the report, Congress sought to present a comprehensive critique of the Modi government’s record, arguing that the achievements highlighted by the BJP are overshadowed by unmet promises and persistent challenges facing ordinary citizens. The BJP has not yet formally responded to the report’s findings.