Black magic remark: Don’t lower dignity of office, Cong tells PM; announces more price rise protests

The party also hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi who on Wednesday likened the black-cloth protest to black magic.

“On August 5, there was an attempt to spread black magic mentality. Those who think that by wearing black clothes, their period of despair will end are unaware that irrespective of the black magic and their belief in superstition, the public’s trust will never be restored in them,” Modi said Wednesday.

Hitting back, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked Modi to stop lowering the “dignity” of the Prime Minister’s post by talking about superstitious matters. “Stop lowering the dignity of the prime minister’s post and misleading the country by talking about superstitious things like ‘black magic’ to hide your black deeds…You will have to give answers on people’s issues,” the former Congress chief tweeted.

The Congress said the August 5 protest resonated with the people. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s desperate attempt to tar legitimate protest as ‘black magic’ only highlights the BJP government’s insecurity about its failure to control rampaging inflation and unemployment,” said AICC general secretary in charge of communication Jairam Ramesh.

Arguing that the people are suffering because of the Modi government’s economic mismanagement, he said the Congress will take the fight forward with a series of protests against price rise and unemployment.

“The party will organise several “Mehangai Chaupal” interactive meetings at Mandis, retail markets and other locations in all assembly constituencies from August 17 to 23. This will culminate in a “Mehangai Par Halla Bol” rally on August 28 at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi that will be addressed by senior Congress leaders. Pradesh Congress Committees will simultaneously hold “Mehangai Par Halla Bol – Chalo Dilli” events at the state, district, and block levels,” he said in a statement.