Congress Calls Nilekani-Led Task Force a 'Damage Control Exercise' by PM Modi

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday criticised the Centre's decision to constitute a task force headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, alleging that the initiative is a "damage control exercise" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi rather than a genuine policy intervention.

Addressing the media, Congress leaders questioned the timing of the government's decision and claimed that the panel had been announced in response to mounting criticism over recent developments related to governance and policy. The party argued that the Centre should focus on addressing the root causes of the issues instead of creating new committees.

According to the Congress, the formation of the Nilekani-led task force appears to be an attempt to deflect attention from public concerns. The party also demanded greater transparency regarding the panel's terms of reference, objectives and timeline for submitting its recommendations.

The Opposition maintained that while expert committees can contribute valuable policy inputs, they should not be used as substitutes for decisive governance. Congress leaders urged the government to explain how the task force would address the concerns that prompted its creation.

The Centre has maintained that the task force brings together experienced professionals and domain experts to provide recommendations on the identified areas. Government sources have described the initiative as part of a broader effort to strengthen policymaking through expert consultation.

Nandan Nilekani, widely recognised for his role in co-founding Infosys and leading key digital public infrastructure initiatives, has previously served on several government advisory bodies. His appointment to head the new task force has attracted attention from political parties as well as industry stakeholders.

The latest remarks add to the ongoing political confrontation between the BJP-led government and the Congress, with both sides differing over the purpose and significance of the newly announced panel.

Further details regarding the task force's composition, scope of work and recommendations are expected to emerge in the coming weeks