We know that Mr. Narendra Modi, current PM of India is famouly known as “Jumlebaz” in the his opposition circles, so here comes the List of some of his famous Jumlas/Rhetorical Statements/ promise not fulfilled/false or factually incorrect statements –
- Will bring Black Money back in 100 days – On its official Twitter handle, the CPI(M) said Prime Minister Modi promised to bring back all the black money stashed in foreign banks within 100 days of coming to power in 2014 and then again within 50 days of demonetisation in 2016. (Indian Express)
- Rs 15 Lakh in Every Indian’s Account: Modi’s remark about every Indian potentially receiving Rs 15 to 20 lakh if black money was recovered from abroad was widely interpreted as a promise. However, this statement was later clarified by BJP President Amit Shah as a metaphorical expression (jumla) to emphasize the use of recovered black money for welfare schemes for the poor, not as a direct transaction into every Indian’s account (Yahoo News – Latest news & headlines).
- Women Safety: Modi’s remarks on safety for women gloss over significant issues, such as the high number of crimes against women (Deccan Herald).
- Unemployment – Among youth aged between 20 and 30 increased during the Oct-Dec quarter of 2023. Specifically, unemployment for those aged 20 to 24 rose to 44.49%, and for those aged 25 to 29, it increased to 14.33% (Forbes India).
- Demonetisation: Modi claimed that demonetisation led to the confiscation of black money worth Rs. 1.25 lakh crores, and black money worth Rs. 2 lakh crore had to be deposited in banks. The facts show that while the government did unearth more than that amount over three years, it doesn’t mean all that money was surrendered to the state. Most of it is likely to be penalized and taxed (Scroll.in).
- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Inflows: Modi claimed that the total FDI inflows in the last two and a half years touched $130 billion, whereas, in reality, the inflows amounted to $101.72 billion, which is 21.8% lower than his claim (Factchecker.in).
- GST Rates: He stated that the rate of 1% under the composition scheme of GST for companies with a turnover of up to Rs 1.5 crore is the lowest in the world. However, many countries offer a minimum tax of 1% on small enterprises, and several countries even have zero corporate tax rates (Factchecker.in).
- Rural Electrification: Modi’s claim was that after 67 years of independence, only about 70% of rural households had electricity, and in the last four years alone, this figure reached 95%. However, when the BJP came to power in 2014, 97% of villages were already electrified (Factchecker.in).
- Usage of Toilets: He claimed that more than 90% of the toilets built in the last four years are being regularly used. Studies and investigations have shown that nearly a quarter, or 23% of people who own a latrine, continue to defecate in the open (Factchecker.in).
- Economic Growth Under Previous Government: Modi’s comment on the previous government experiencing economic growth rates of 5.7% or lower on several occasions was misleading, omitting the context that the economy had also seen significant periods of high growth (Factchecker.in).
- Income Tax Returns Post-Demonetisation: He claimed that from 1st April to 5th August more than 56 lakh people filed personal income tax returns, compared to just 22 lakh in the same period the previous year. This claim is misleading because the comparison is cherry-picked, and the increase doesn’t necessarily directly correlate with the effects of demonetisation (Factchecker.in).
- Medical Colleges in Uttar Pradesh (UP): Modi, alongside UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, claimed that UP had only 12 medical colleges till 2017, and this number has now increased fourfold. Official documents and records contradict this claim, showing that UP had significantly more medical colleges before 2017 and the increase has not been as claimed (Factchecker.in).
- 99 Irrigation Projects Completion: Modi claimed that 99 pending irrigation projects were completed, which was only partly true. While these projects were initiated to bring millions of hectares under irrigation, they had not been completed at the time of the statement (India Today).
- Passport Power: Contrary to Modi’s claim that the Indian passport is one of the most welcomed around the world, the Passport Index ranked India 65th based on its visa-free score, indicating that many countries offer easier access to their borders (India Today).
- Honey Export Doubled: The statement about India’s honey export doubling was false. The export rose by 17 percent from 2016-17 to 2017-18, not doubling as claimed (India Today).
- Rs 13 Crore MUDRA Loan Boosting Entrepreneurship and Jobs: This claim was found to be misleading because the majority of MUDRA loans were under Rs 50,000, which is insufficient for creating substantial employment opportunities (India Today).
- Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Saving Lives of 3 Lakh Children: Modi’s claim that the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan saved the lives of 3 lakh children was false. The WHO statement referenced was conditional, stating such a number could be averted if the program achieved 100% coverage by October 2019 (India Today).
- From ‘Fragile Five’ to Investment Destination: The statement about India transitioning from being labeled as one of the ‘fragile five’ economies to a multi-trillion dollar investment destination was partly true. While Moody’s upgraded India’s rating, they also issued a caution regarding the potential for downgrading if fiscal metrics deteriorated (India Today).
- Remarks on Sonia Gandhi’s Foreign Trips: Modi critiqued Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s foreign medical trips, alleging that a significant amount of public funds were spent on these travels (IndiaTimes).
- Highest Covid-19 tests and vaccinations : In a speech, he claimed UP conducts the highest Covid-19 tests and vaccinations, but this doesn’t account for its large population (Deccan Herald)
- Top of FormCloud Can Help Us Escape Radar” Comment On Air Strike : Modi said that “The weather was not good on the day of Airstrikes. There was a thought that crept in the minds of the experts that day of strike should be changed. However, I suggested that clouds could actually help our planes escape the radars” But actually it was technically wrong as radar can detect objects with precision even under adverse weather conditions. (NDTV) (Telegraph India)
What Indian Constitution and Indian Law says about false claims by a Ministers/Public Officials –
In the Indian legal framework, various provisions address the conduct of ministers and other public officials, including actions against false claims or promises. These provisions are spread across the Constitution, criminal law, and specific statutes related to electoral practices. Here’s a summary of the relevant laws and constitutional provisions:
- Constitution of India: It establishes the foundation for ethical governance and public accountability. Under the Constitution, every minister is accountable to the legislature for their actions, including any false statements or promises made. This accountability is enforced through various mechanisms like no-confidence motions, questions during sessions, and debates.
- Representation of the People Act, 1951: This Act is crucial in the context of electoral practices and includes provisions against corrupt practices and false statements during election campaigns. Section 123 of the Act defines “corrupt practices,” which could include making false statements about the character or conduct of a candidate. However, this section primarily applies to election-related activities rather than the broader conduct of ministers in office.
- Indian Penal Code (IPC): The IPC contains provisions that can address making false statements or promises in certain contexts. For example, Sections 499 and 500 deal with defamation, which could apply to false claims made by a minister that defame another person. Section 171G penalizes false statements in connection with an election, although it’s more limited in scope.
- Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988: This Act is designed to combat corruption in public offices. While it primarily deals with bribery and other forms of corruption, the principles of integrity and honesty in the Act can extend to false claims and promises by public officials, under certain interpretations.
- Conduct Rules: Various conduct rules and ethics guidelines for ministers and public officials also stipulate standards of honesty, integrity, and transparency. While these are not always enforceable in courts like criminal or civil penalties, they provide a basis for internal disciplinary actions, including removal from office.
- Public Interest Litigation (PIL): The judiciary has played a significant role in addressing issues of public concern, including misconduct by public officials. Citizens and organizations can file PILs in high courts or the Supreme Court to seek action against ministers for false claims or promises, under the broader umbrella of ensuring good governance and accountability.