PM Modi campaign about himself, abusing Congress; INDIA will form govt: Mallikarjun Kharge

“The PM spoke about temples-mosques, Muslim and other religions 421 times. He spoke about dividing society. He spoke about Muslim, Pakistan and minorities 224 times,” Kharge said. He also said they (Congress) are “confident that on June 4, the people will give a mandate for an alternate government”.

Kharge said this Lok Sabha election will be remembered for a long time. “The PM and top leaders of the BJP have made innumerable attempts to divide people on the basis of religion and divisive issues and divert their attention. Despite this, the people chose issues and we sought votes on issues,” he said. The Congress has always thought about the problems of the people and worked towards them, he said.

Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken at Shanti Van to pay tribute to former PM Jawaharlal Nehru on his death anniversary, in New Delhi on Monday. (Express photo by Anil Sharma)

“We took issues like inflation, unemployment, condition of farmers, economic inequality, misuse of democratic institutions, to the people. These issues became the main issues of the combined Opposition,” said Kharge.

“I am confident the INDIA bloc will form a government with absolute majority, and all of us will form a government similar to UPA-1 and UPA-2 and we will give an inclusive and nationalistic, and developmental government,” said, Kharge, who has addressed more than 100 rallies and over 20 press conferences, and given more than 50 interviews.

Targeting Modi, he said the Prime Minister is supposed to behave in an ideal manner. “The kind of language and words used by him… the Congress manifesto was connected to one religion. This was not just a violation of the Model Code of Conduct, but also lowered the honour of the PM’s post… it is the responsibility of the ECI to impose the MCC,” he said.

The freezing of party accounts just before the elections was the biggest challenge for the Congress, Kharge said. Blaming the government for clamping down on the Opposition in Parliament, he said, “During the winter and budget session of Parliament, the government had the same attitude. Not letting Opposition speak in Parliament, suspending Opposition MPs from Parliament, passing Bills without discussion…They finished democratic procedures.”

Kharge claimed the government is “moving towards dictatorship and the first target will be the Constitution”. “When we went among people, they approved this conversation started by us. They told us that they think the same thing,” he said.

Quoting BR Ambedkar’s speech from the Constitution debates, he said, “Bhakti and religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul, but bhakti or hero worship in politics is a sure road to degradation and eventual dictatorship… Now, the PM considers himself a God’s avatar. His people are trying to say this.”

Referring to Modi’s remarks to ABP News television channel on Wednesday that nobody knew Mahatma Gandhi till the film Gandhi was made, Kharge said Modi may be unaware about Mahatma Gandhi. In the interview, Modi asked if it was not India’s responsibility in the 75 years that the world gets to know who Mahatma Gandhi was. “Nobody knew Mahatma Gandhi. When the Gandhi film was made, there was curiosity in the world about who he was,” Modi had said.

On the issue of the Prime Ministerial candidate for INDIA bloc, Kharge said, “Because of our alliance, we can’t say if X will be PM or Y will be PM. We will call everyone and will discuss it. Based on our allies’ opinions, it will be decided.”

Targeting Modi over the number of rallies done by him, Kharge said, “Why is he traveling so much? I saw him in 2014 and 2019. He didn’t travel so much. Then, why is he so worried right now? It means there is something wrong and he is not getting the majority… These meetings are being done in panic which will be over on June 4.”

Talking of the possibility of a Dalit PM, Kharge said, “In 53 years, I have been offered several times… I have never sought a post because I am Dalit. It (the various responsibilities in the past) has been given to me by the Congress and Sonia Gandhi.”