One of the most common techniques in politics to evade answering and dodge a question is to play the blame game. It’s a trick that’s used commonly and openly, and that almost everyone knows is happening, but is still done with aplomb.
According to The Indian Express, Amit Shah recently said that while the Centre might have fallen short on the fight against coronavirus, what did the Opposition do?
Considering the Opposition only has about 40+ MPs in the Lok Sabha while the Centre has over 300, the statement has been seen as highly deflective and effectively pointless. While addressing a virtual rally for Odisha from New Delhi, Shah said,
Some short-sighted people, some people in the Opposition, I want to ask them, there may have been lapses on our part, but our commitment was clear. We may have made a mistake, we may have fallen short, we may not have been able to do something. But what did you do?… You ask us questions? Apart from interviews, the Congress did nothing.
Criticising Congress’ role in the Covid crisis, Amit Shah said, “Some people in the Opposition… I want to ask them… there may have been lapses on our part, but our commitment was clear. We may have fallen short, we may not have been able to do something. But what did you do?” pic.twitter.com/IRhQqcWBOM
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) June 9, 2020
He said that while they had botched the fight against coronavirus and caused severe hardship to migrants, the Modi government had also announced a package of Rs 1,70,000 crore. He then claimed the Opposition had done nothing to help in the fight.
The comments have been met with a barrage of reactions from people, who wondered why the Opposition was even being questioned considering it’s the job of the current government to help fight this crisis.
Of late, I have this problem. Not able to differentiate meme and actual news!..
— கமலேஷ் ஜவகர் (@KamaleshJawahar) June 9, 2020
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Amit Shah: On Corona, we may have fallen short (but) what did Opposition do? | India News,The Indian Express https://t.co/IeDKvTuzsx
Sir we voted the opposition out in 2014 in case you forgot.. pic.twitter.com/U3YcPD9XRS
— Atul Khatri (@one_by_two) June 9, 2020
There can’t be any explanation for this nonsense. An Opposition with merely 40+ MPs in the loksabha needs to answer while 300+ MPs have “fallen short”. Laughable.https://t.co/cdzogXGlH4
— shubham daheriya (@DaheriyaShubham) June 9, 2020
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What?! Really?
— Shinzani Jain (@ShinzaniJain) June 9, 2020
‘Barobar nishtha’ = dismantling labour laws, death and hunger to working people, sky diving economy, crackdown on protests and arrests.
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Sir it is your job to put in policies and implement. You are the government. Why are you blaming opposition who you have not even consulted?
— Makarand Khandekar (@MakKhandekar) June 9, 2020
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Amit Shah: On Corona, we may have fallen short (but) what did Opposition do? | India News,The Indian Express https://t.co/FasVIz1TqU
During the rally, Shah also claimed that India is well placed compared to other countries in regard to coronavirus, and that the Janta Curfew would be written about in history books.