Congress criticizes Modi’s “billionaire raj” as more inequal than British Raj
New Delhi: The Indian National Congress has condemned the Narendra Modi government’s economic policies, labeling them as promoting a “billionaire raj” that surpasses even the British Raj in terms of inequality.
The opposition party’s criticism is based on the latest Hurun India Rich List, which reveals a significant increase in the number of billionaires in the country.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the stark economic disparities under the current administration. He pointed out that India saw the emergence of one new billionaire every five days in 2023, and Modi’s closest friend is the foremost among them all. Ramesh’s post emphasized that Gautam Adani, the richest Indian according to the 2024 Hurun India Rich List, has become a symbol of this growing economic divide.
Ramesh said that the Modi government was fostering an environment that exacerbates economic inequality, contrasting it with the era of British colonial rule. He criticized the Modi government for its silence on global calls for a billionaire tax and its failure to address the increasing wealth gap.
The Hurun India Rich List for 2024 shows a dramatic rise in the number of billionaires, with India now boasting 334 billionaires—up by 75 from the previous year. Gautam Adani’s family leads the list with a net worth of Rs 11.6 lakh crore, overtaking Mukesh Ambani, whose wealth is pegged at Rs 10.14 lakh crore.
The Congress’s remarks underscore growing concerns about economic inequality in India, reflecting a broader debate about wealth distribution and the government’s economic policies.
