Congress President Kharge Exposes failure of 98% UDAN scheme routes, Calls for Accountability

New Delhi, August 19, 2023: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has taken a dig at the Centre’s flagship UDAN scheme, alleging that a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report reveals its failure on 93% of the routes.

The UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme was initiated in 2016 to enhance regional air connectivity and make air travel affordable in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

In a Hindi post on X, Kharge pointed out that the government’s promise of enabling people wearing slippers to travel by air remains unfulfilled, mirroring their pattern of unkept assurances. He stated, “We are not saying this, the CAG Report is saying this! The scheme (UDAN) did not work on 93% of the routes. Even independent audit of airlines was not done. The much-publicized Helicopter services also remained stalled.”

Kharge’s criticism didn’t stop there. He accused the government of offering only “lies” and “jumlas” to the common people, emphasizing that the CAG report serves as evidence of the scheme’s shortcomings. He added, “Didn’t get ‘UDAN’, just talk of lies and jumlas! India will not forgive such an incompetent government now!”

Earlier this week, the Congress had alleged that the CAG report also highlighted “scams” in BJP-led central government’s infrastructure projects. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate called for an investigation into these alleged irregularities and demanded accountability from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress party’s consistent focus on the government’s infrastructure projects and schemes suggests heightened scrutiny as the upcoming general elections draw closer.