The Pradesh Congress todaylaunched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, alleging that its economic policies, aggressive privatisation of public sector units and a series of new legislations — including the Labour Codes, the Seed Bill 2025 and the Electricity Bill 2025 — are “anti-people” and designed to strengthen corporate interests.

Addressing a press conference, Pradesh Congress spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty said the government has been “systematically weakening public interest and democratic structures to favour corporate lobbies.”

According to the party, since 2014 the Centre has “undermined democratic institutions, encouraged government-sponsored propaganda and fostered divisive politics.” The Congress alleged that large-scale privatisation, pro-corporate financial decisions and measures “harmful to workers” have pushed a vast section of the population into economic distress.

Citing data, the party claimed that 2,04,238 companies have shut down in the last five years, while the number of “shell and fraudulent companies” has risen alarmingly. Many firms, it said, closed operations without paying workers’ dues. Along with a decline in industrial output, contraction in the power sector and a slowdown in consumption, the Congress argued that the government’s claims of strong GDP growth are “misleading and unrealistic.”

The party expressed serious objections to the new Labour Codes, the Seed Bill 2025 and the Electricity Bill 2025. According to its statement, the labour codes would “curtail the rights of 90% of India’s workforce,” while the Seed Bill would “hand over farmers’ rights to corporate entities,” giving big companies control over seed prices and markets. It further warned that the Electricity Bill 2025, by removing cross-subsidies, would lead to a steep rise in power costs for rural households and farmers.

The Congress said these changes would weaken state regulation and allow large corporations to dominate the power and agricultural sectors.

Raising concerns over digital surveillance, the party also questioned the safety of personal data under the government’s “Sanchar Saathi” project. Although the Centre withdrew its guidelines under public pressure, the Congress insisted that a “clear, legally revised notification” must be issued.

To protest these policies and bills, the Congress has announced a statewide agitation on December 8, including rallies and the symbolic burning of draft copies of the Seed Bill and Electricity Bill. The party said similar protests will be organised across the country in phases to demand the protection of public interest.