– Abdul Bari Masoud
Mumbai: In a scathing critique, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge declared that the real danger to India stems from the RSS and its political wing, the BJP. He accused these organisations of sowing division and perpetuating a rhetoric of hatred and violence from early morning discussions.
Kharge specifically targeted BJP leaders for propagating divisive slogans like “Batenge toh katenge” (If we divide, we will be cut). He emphasised that the nation is already united, asserting that only the BJP and RSS are attempting to fracture societal harmony. He criticised their ideology, rooted in the Manusmriti, for fostering discrimination and deepening societal divisions.
Reflecting on the current political landscape, Kharge expressed relief that the Modi government did not secure an overwhelming majority of “400 plus” seats, rendering it dependent on allies like Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu. He noted that this weakened government’s reliance on coalition partners has forced it into parliamentary debates and discussions, which it previously avoided.
Recalling a time of better relations between the ruling party and the Opposition, Kharge mentioned former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He highlighted Vajpayee’s praise for Indira Gandhi, whom he once described as “Durga” for her role in the liberation of Bangladesh. He also noted mutual admiration between Vajpayee and Pandit Nehru, contrasting this with the current polarised political environment.
Kharge accused Prime Minister Modi of misusing central agencies like ED, CBI, and CVC to intimidate political rivals. He questioned Modi’s strategy, asking how long he could continue to threaten and imprison opposition leaders, and asserted that the united opposition would not bow down to such tactics.
Without naming him directly, Kharge took a swipe at UP C Yogi Adityanath. He criticised leaders who, dressed in saffron robes, use divisive language which aims to polarise the population.
