Govt manipulating zero-balance 'Jan Dhan' account figures: Congress

New Delhi: Congress on Tuesday latched on to reports of "sly game" of depositing Re 1 to reduce the number of zero-balance Jan Dhan accounts to accuse the Modi government of "fooling the nation" through "lies, deceit and trickery".

"Manipulating figures, fudging data and falsifying so- called achievements have become the functioning style of Modi government. Lies, deceit and trickery are the distinctive features through which the Modi government operates," party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said in a statement.

He said this "sly game" of depositing Re 1 to reduce the number of zero-balance Jan Dhan accounts so as to project robust numbers and look impressive in public discourse lies "totally and thoroughly exposed", and the "truth" is there for all to see.

"Rhetoric and 'jumlas' having become the sole hallmark of his government. The Prime Minister seems to be buying the loyalty of people at the rate of Re 1," he said.

"First it was fudged GDP figures, then it was claiming growth even as all indices of exports, industry and manufacturing plummeted," he said.

He said a "fantasy" was created that through the 'Give it Up' initiatve "Rs. 24,000 Cr was saved" and claims of lower inflation were made though pulses sold at Rs. 200 per Kg and vegetable and Milk prices soared.

He alleged the Prime Minister and his motley group of "disempowered" ministers have been doing nothing but "fudging numbers, manipulating data and institutions and creating a chimera of performance and development out of thin air".

"Even as a vigilant Opposition and an objective press keep on calling his bluff, the government continues with its games of deceit," he said.

The Modi government has forced banks to open crores of accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, which remain unutilised, he said.

"All (PM) Modi achieved in these two years is forcing crores of people to open bank accounts. But people are asking what will they do with bank accounts when they have nothing to keep in the bank," he said.

He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "fooling the nation" through "prevarication" like "fudging" of GDP data, exaggerating figures on LPG connections, electrification of villages and the deletion of fake ration cards.

"Modiji unfortunately presides over a government with only 'Event Management Skills', but in the absence of all fundamental facts and delivery, such event management becomes farcical and hollow. Time for Prime Minister and the Modi government to introspect," he added.