– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge today launched a scathing attack on BJP and its state governments for allegedly inciting communal tensions by targeting ancient mosques. Mocking the BJP’s approach, Kharge suggested they might as well start excavating the Red Fort, Taj Mahal, and Qutub Minar in their quest for temples beneath historical structures.
Speaking at the ‘Maha Rally,’ organised by Dalit, OBC, Minority, and Adivasi groups to uphold the Constitution, Kharge condemned ongoing surveys aimed at uncovering temples beneath mosques. He reminded the BJP of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement, which advised against searching for temples under every mosque, questioning why the BJP was disregarding its ideological mentor.
“Is Bhagwat saying one thing publicly and encouraging another in private? Why does the BJP, which owes its rise to the RSS, not follow his words?” Kharge asked. Referring to the 1991 Places of Worship Act, which ensures the preservation of the status quo of religious sites as of 1947, he criticised the BJP’s actions as contradictory to their professed commitment to unity.
Kharge highlighted the tragic events in Sambhal, where police reportedly killed five and injured several others during clashes around a mosque survey. “Why provoke communities and incite violence in the name of surveys?” he asked.
Pointing out BJP’s duplicity, Kharge said, “Your leaders talk about unity, but your actions betray divisiveness. Even Bhagwat has said there’s no need for further searches after the Ram Mandir. If you respect his words, why pursue this path of discord?”
Emphasising secularism, Kharge said, “Secularism doesn’t reject Hinduism; it upholds India’s tradition of respecting all faiths. I am a Hindu, and my name, Mallikarjun, symbolises a sacred lingam in Hindu tradition. Believing in secularism doesn’t diminish my Hindu identity; it strengthens our nation’s unity.”
Kharge accused the BJP of undermining the Constitution, stating that the rights of marginalised groups – Dalits, OBCs, minorities, and the poor – are safeguarded because of the Constitution. He alleged that BJP leaders aim to amend the Constitution and that the party not only manipulates elections through Electronic Voting Machines but also topples governments, citing examples in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh.
He reaffirmed Congress’s commitment to secularism and the caste census, pledging to remove the 50% cap on reservations. Kharge noted that Congress-ruled states like Karnataka and Telangana have initiated caste censuses, contrasting this with the BJP’s opposition to such measures.
“The BJP accuses us of dividing people with the caste census, but it is they who divide with their slogans and actions. Congress unites people. We will continue to fight for the rights of all communities and defend the Constitution against all attempts to undermine it,” Kharge concluded.
