PM Modi only diverts and distracts: Congress

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi making a strong pitch for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) ahead of next year’s general elections, the Congress on July 2 said the ruling BJP is raising “divisive and polarising” issues to divert the attention from the failures of its government.

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi making a strong pitch for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) ahead of next year's general elections, the Congress on July 2 said the ruling BJP is raising "divisive and polarising" issues to divert the attention from the failures of its government.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused Mr. Modi of working overtime to raise such issues and not addressing the day-to-day concerns of the common man.

"The Prime Minister only diverts and distracts. The Prime Minister works overtime to raise divisive and polarising issues. He never tries to bring a consensus. He never addresses the real day-to-day concerns of people," Mr. Ramesh told reporters here.

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"While Manipur is burning, China is sitting on Indian territory, people are struggling with rising prices and unemployment, the Prime Minister is on a different note," the former Union Minister said.

He further alleged that the Prime Minister is trying to raise such divisive and polarising issues only to divert the attention of people from the failures of his government.

The Congress has been adopting a cautious approach on the UCC issue. The top leadership of the party discussed the issue at length at its strategy group meeting on Saturday. Insiders say the opposition party is hoping that the debate on the issue will settle soon.