New Delhi: The Congress attacked the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday over the issue of rising prices, claiming that unemployment and inflation were the "two brothers" of the Modi administration.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh stated that the purpose of the party's upcoming "Mehngai par halla bol" rally on Sunday at the Ramlila Maidan in this city was to raise awareness of the two "biggest challenges" of inflation and unemployment among the populace rather than to campaign for the 2024 elections.
"We had protested against this event on August 5. About 70 MPs were detained, including Rahul Gandhi. People from 12-13 states are coming and we want to send an effective message to the insensitive Modi government that people are suffering from this back-breaking inflation and unemployment and solutions should be found for them," Ramesh said.
Asked about Ghulam Nabi Azad's rally in Jammu on Sunday, Ramesh said he would speak about the Congress rally, not that of the BJP.
On the BJP's allegation that Congress was trying to divert people's attention from the issue of corruption, Ramesh said the party has been protesting against rising prices for over a year.
"A rally was held in Jaipur. About 70 MPs were detained from Vijay Chowk. We have raised these issues inside and outside Parliament. We have held protests in various states. This rally is part of that series of protests."
"On September 7, we will begin the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' which too will have the economic disparity as the biggest issue," Ramesh said.
"Modi government has two brothers- unemployment and inflation. Modi government has two brothers- ED and CBI," the Congress leader went on to say.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and a host of party leaders are slated to address the rally, PTI reported.
Party workers from Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and other parts of the country, are converging for the event.
The rally comes ahead of the opposition party's 3,500-km 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' which will traverse the length of the country from Kanyakumari to Kashmir starting on September 7.
Congress has said the rally aims to highlight the issues of price hikes and unemployment and to promote communal harmony in the country.
The party said its workers will continue to raise these issues as a responsible opposition and will take to the streets to fight for the cause of the common people.