PM Modi maintaining studious silence on key issues affecting UP: Congress

The Congress on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of maintaining a "studious silence" on key issues affecting the people of Uttar Pradesh, as it alleged that he has "failed" women, farmers and youth.Ahead of the prime minister's rally in Meerut, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions for him on behalf of the people of Uttar Pradesh.To avoid having to come clean on his real intentions, he has maintained a "studious silence" on these key issues so far, Ramesh said and went on to list the issues which he claimed the people of Uttar Pradesh are hoping to hear from the PM on. Just two weeks ago, the BJP Mahila Morcha's National Vice President quit the party, citing that female party workers were being 'insulted' and 'treated harshly'," Ramesh said. "Another female leader, the President of the Mahila Morcha in UP's Moradabad, was physically assaulted by local leaders, and forced to turn to social media to demand justice," he claimed.Ramesh further alleged that when India's female wrestlers fought for justice last year, the Modi government was the first to betray them in pursuit of its political calculations. Even as the prime minister pays lip service to both these leaders, he has failed farmers consistently," he alleged.Back in 2014, Modi used to often make promises to implement the Swaminathan Committee Report but since then, he has put the report in "cold storage", and suppressed attempts by India's farmers to protest for their rights and livelihoods, Ramesh claimed.The Congress has guaranteed that it will give legal status to MSP, in accordance with the Swaminathan Commission's formula, he said.