New Delhi, August 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday used his Independence Day address to target the NDA government, asserting that the Congress had focused on improving people's economic conditions rather than merely renaming schemes and institutions.
Addressing the party's 80th Independence Day celebrations at Indira Bhawan, Kharge highlighted the contributions of successive Congress prime ministers to India's economic, educational, military and technological development, while claiming that “90 per cent” of the country's progress was the party's contribution.
Kharge said Independence Day should not only commemorate the freedom struggle but also prompt an assessment of how much of the vision of India's freedom fighters had been realized.
“Today's historic day is not merely a day to commemorate the struggle for Independence, but also an occasion to ask: To what extent has the dream of India envisioned by our freedom fighters been fulfilled?” he said.
He noted that the Congress, during its 141-year history, fought against colonial rule for 62 years and said millions had made sacrifices for India's freedom. He also underlined the role of young people in both the freedom movement and subsequent nation-building.
Kharge credited former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru with laying the foundations of a modern, democratic and secular India and establishing institutions including IITs, IIMs and public sector units, besides developing basic infrastructure and major irrigation projects.
He said the green and white revolutions were initiated and promoted during the tenure of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, while Indira Gandhi strengthened India's space, nuclear, military and strategic capabilities. He also credited her with playing a major role in the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.
“Today, it is said from the Red Fort that everything has been done by them,” Kharge said, taking a swipe at the Narendra Modi government.
Recalling Rajiv Gandhi's tenure, Kharge said the former Prime Minister contributed to restoring peace in the Northeast and Punjab, laid the foundation for India's IT revolution and strengthened defense capabilities. He also credited him with expanding opportunities for young people through education and skill development initiatives, establishing Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.
Kharge said former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao opened India to the world through economic liberalization and helped move the country towards becoming a major investment destination.
He also highlighted the contribution of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying his government combined economic growth with social welfare through measures including MGNREGA, the Right to Education Act, the Right to Information Act, the Forest Rights Act and the Food Security Act.
Kharge further said Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi had made a “major contribution” by working with a team to formulate policies and empower people with rights.
“We should not forget all this. Today's government has not carried out anything like this. This government has not given people their rights,” he said, accusing the Center of taking credit for work done by previous Congress governments.
“We (Congress) are the ones who provided food, education and shelter to people but still few people have the habit of taking false credit,” Kharge said.
He concluded with a broader claim about the Congress legacy: “Whatever we see in the country today, 90 per cent of it is the gift of the Congress Party. We did not indulge in merely changing names. We tried to change the people's economic condition.”