– Abdul Bari Masoud
Sangli, Sep 6: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has issued a sharp critique of the RSS and BJP, accusing them of attempting to reintroduce a regressive education system rooted in Manusmriti. Speaking at a function to honor the late veteran Congress leader Dr. Patangrao Kadam, Kharge alleged the RSS is infiltrating educational institutions and altering the syllabus to reshape the nation’s Constitution.
Kharge’s speech, which launched the Congress campaign for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, was marked by strong words against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS. He held them accountable for the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue, describing it as an insult not only to Maharashtra but to the entire nation.
Kharge expressed concerns that the RSS-BJP alliance aims to bring back an educational ideology reminiscent of the Manusmriti era, which he warned would reverse the progress made in ensuring equal educational opportunities since the Constitution came into force.
“After the Constitution was enacted, all Shudras were allowed to attend schools, colleges, and professional institutions. Now they want to reimpose Manusmriti rule in this country,” Kharge asserted.
He urged people to remain vigilant and strengthen democracy to counter these efforts, warning that failing to do so would usher in “bad days” for the nation.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, also questioned Modi’s recent apology over the statue’s collapse, speculating whether it was due to awarding the construction contract to an RSS affiliate or due to corruption. He further accused Modi’s administration of prioritizing RSS loyalty over merit in appointments across key institutions.
Gandhi continued his attack by reminding the audience of the struggles faced by farmers during the protests against the controversial agricultural laws, which led to the deaths of over 700 farmers. He demanded that Modi apologize for these “black laws,” as well as for the economic hardships caused by demonetization and the flawed implementation of the GST regime.
Gandhi emphasized the ongoing ideological battle between the Congress and its allies on one side, and the BJP-RSS on the other. He accused BJP of systematically eroding the Constitution, spreading hatred and violence, and working solely for the benefit of a few corporate giants like Adani and Ambani, while small and medium-sized businesses suffer.
He criticized the government for undermining the democratic and social fabric of the nation and called for united action to protect the Constitution and uphold the values of love, harmony, and inclusivity championed by the Congress party.
