New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during his inaugural speech at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Karnataka. Kharge accused the ruling party of undermining India’s constitutional institutions.
Kharge in his address remained focused on the alleged erosion of trust in the Election Commission of India (ECI), which Congress has raised its finger on after the recent state elections in Maharashtra and Haryana. He highlighted concerns regarding impartiality and raised questions about the ECI’s responses to allegations of irregularities.
“A few days ago, they changed the election rules to share information on court orders. Sometimes deleting names from the voter list, sometimes preventing them from voting. Sometimes a sudden increase in the number of voters in the list. Sometimes an unexpected increase in the voter turnout at the last moment of voting,” he asked.
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The Congress president didn’t stop at the ECI. He also hit out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his comments on B.R. Ambedkar, calling them “a grave insult” to the architect of the Indian Constitution. “We have raised objections, protested. Now protests are taking place across the country. But the Prime Minister and the government are not ready to admit their mistake,” Kharge said.
Kharge criticised PM Modi-led government for what he calls a failure to acknowledge the controversy and pointed out the lack of apology or resignation from the Home Minister, despite nationwide protests by the Congress party. “Instead of asking for an apology and resignation from the Prime Minister, Amit Shah has supported. The Prime Minister has made a statement in defence of the Home Minister,” he added.
Despite Sonia Gandhi’s absence from the CWC meeting, a read was delivered on her behalf, which condemned the current government and its alignment with the RSS, directly linking them to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. “It was a transformational milestone in our country’s history. Today, we rededicate ourselves to preserve, protect and promote the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. He has been and will continue to be the fundamental source of our inspiration,” Sonia said in her message read out.
Sonia pointed out the fact that the RSS had bitterly opposed Gandhi and even glorified his assassins. “It was he who moulded and guided all our remarkable galaxy of leaders of that generation. His legacy is under threat from those in power in New Delhi and the ideologies and institutions that have nurtured them,” she said in her message.
“These organisations never fought for our freedom. They opposed Mahatma Gandhi bitterly. They created a toxic atmosphere that led to his assassination. They glorify his killers,” Sonia added.
