As the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government completed the first year of its second term on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministerial and party colleagues came out with its 'historic achievements', citing big decisions taken by it during the period, while acknowledging the enormity of challenge COVID-19 has posed to the country.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that with pro-people measures and infrastructure development, Modi has not only prepared a blueprint for making a strong 'new India' but also a self-reliant one for the country's 'golden future', while party president J P Nadda declared that the period will be known for taking tough and big decisions and turning challenges into opportunities.
However, attacking the government on its first anniversary of the second term, the Congress said it was a 'year of disappointment, disastrous management and diabolical pain'.
While senior Congress leader K C Venugopal alleged that the six years of the Modi dispensation have seen fraying of bonds of empathy, fraternity and brotherhood with increase in acts of communal and sectarian violence, party chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said at the end of six years, it appears the government is at war with its people and is inflicting wounds on them, instead of healing them.
Marking the anniversary, the prime minister wrote a letter to the countrymen in which he listed abrogation of Article 370, settlement of the Ram Temple issue, criminalisation of triple talaq and the amendment to the Citizenship Act among the key achievements during his second term, and said his government's decisions in the last year were aimed at fulfilling the dream of making India a global leader.
Asserting that the Modi government in its six years of tenure had corrected many 'historic wrongs', Shah said it has also laid the foundation of a self-reliant India, which is on the road to development.
'I heartily congratulate the country's popular Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the successful one year of Modi 2.0. It has been full of historic achievements,' Shah tweeted.
His ministry also presented a list of achievements during the last one year, which included proactive action taken to check COVID-19 through a nationwide lockdown, opening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor with Pakistan and designation of Maulana Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the United Nations.
Nadda said Modi has given a new direction to the country's democracy with his far-sighted policies, dedication and the spirit of team India, and people's welfare and the country's interest were reflected in every decision of the government.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the prime minister had executed ideological commitments of the BJP with his several decisions, and has enhanced the credibility of our country as well as our party among the masses.
Party leaders also acknowledged the enormity of the COVID-19 crisis, with Nadda speaking of "unimaginable challenges" the government has faced.
He, though, added that the government dealt with the grave issue with bold and timely decisions and noted that the situation in India remains under control, even as big and powerful countries found themselves 'helpless' against the coronavirus.
However, hitting back, the opposition party accused the government of sidestepping Parliament and rendering grassroots elected bodies non-functional under the garb of centralised handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his open letter, Modi also said labourers, migrant workers, artisans and craftsmen in small scale industries, hawkers and such fellow countrymen have undergone tremendous suffering.
"We are working in a united and determined way to alleviate their troubles," he said, asserting that India is on course to victory against the coronavirus.
BJP leaders also mentioned the Supreme Court order paving the way for construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya among the key developments of the year. The Congress always tried to delay a decision on the matter, Nadda said.
In a video conference interaction with the media, the BJP president also slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his criticism of the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Gandhi's understanding of these issues is 'limited' and that his statements are not aimed at addressing the crisis but are all about politics, he said.
BJP ally and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the government in its second term has taken many historic decisions and implemented them with courage and determination.
BJP leaders also highlighted the government's efforts for a self-reliant India and highlighted its Rs 20 lakh crore package for different sections of society in this regard.
Facing criticism from opposition parties over migrants' plight, Nadda said BJP workers across the country have worked to help them while the Congress has only politicised the issue.
The BJP will hold over 2,000 digital rallies across the country to mark the first anniversary of the Modi govternment 2.0, Nadda had said earlier this week.
The Congress also released a set of six 'myths' about the government, highlighting its 'failures' on various fronts and alleging that democracy is under threat under the BJP rule.
The Congress alleged that Modi sold the 'myth of vikas' versus reality of 'Voodoo Modinomics' and its 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' slogan turned out to be 'Mitron ka saath, BJP ka vikas'.
The party said while Modi presented himself as 'pradhan sevak', he actually turned out to be an 'autocratic emperor' and his claim of doubling of farm incomes has turned out to be another myth and he has instead decimated farm economy.
Taking on his 'achche din' slogan, the Congress said the truth is before the people.
The Congress also hit out at the BJP over its strong leadership claim, saying it has turned out to be 'incoherent decision-making' in the government so far.
