The government’s White paper was too white. It blacked out the many achievements of the UPA government and white-washed the monumental failures of the NDA government (including demonetisation and the destruction of the micro and small sector).
Political commentatior Neerja Chowdhury says the upcoming election is a high-stakes battle for both the BJP-led NDA and the opposition. The Prime Minister is poised for a third term, while the opposition faces an existential crisis if they perform poorly. Congress is hitting back by countering with facts, figures, and arguments.
Congress leader Manish Tewari criticized the government s White Paper, calling it a "political manifesto" and claiming that the UPA enacted transformative acts like the Right to Information, Right to Education, Right to Food, MGNREGA, and Aadhaar. Tewari argued that the current government should focus on its achievements rather than presenting a comparison between UPA and NDA regimes.