Hazaribagh: In his first public meeting in the run up to the Jharkhand Assembly elections, Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge on November 5, 2024, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of lying and of making false promises for the sake of the election.

“Modiji only lies, he talks about OBC, SC, ST and tribals but when the Soren government increased OBC reservation from 14% to 27%, 10-12% for SC and 26-28% for ST in 2022, it is still lying there, Modiji, if you are sympathiser of OBC, SC, ST, and tribals then why did you not pass it?” Shri Mallikarjun Kharge queried, in response to Modi’s allegations.

Speaking during a political rally at Hazaribagh, Congress President said, “The BJP seizes power by telling lies. It harasses the poor once in power, so stay away from them. It is a copycat party as well. In Karnataka, we came up with the ‘Bhagya Lakshmi’ scheme, under which women are getting `2,000. Modiji is copying this scheme everywhere because he does not have any roadmap of his own. These people will keep looting water, forests, and land, and will distribute it among their rich friends.”

Lashing out at the BJP leadership, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge said that the common aim of PM Modi, Amit Shah, and other Union Ministers and Chief Ministers is to oust the “tribal Chief Minister” Hemant Soren.

“I want to tell PM Modi and Amit Shah that you cannot remove the INDIA coalition government from Jharkhand,” he said. On Prime Minister Modi’s allegations on Congress-ruled state Karnataka, Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Modiji is lying. I did not talk about any bankruptcy in Karnataka. And all the promises and guarantees made will be fulfilled.”

Listing out the promises delivered by the ruling Congress in Karnataka, Shri Kharge said that 52,000 crores were allocated as aid for the poor. Of these,24,170 crores have been spent. He added that an additional 9,657 crores were allocated in the budget for the Griha Jyoti Yojana, out of which5,164 crores have been spent. He also claimed that under the Grihalakshmi Yojana, the Congress is providing 2,000 per month to the woman head of the household; the budget for this was28,608 crores, of which `13,451 crores had been spent.

Congress President asserted that the Congress Party never lies and always delivers on what they promise during elections. Later, while addressing another rally in Ranchi’s Kanke, Congress President Shri kharge charged the BJP with aiming to snatch the rights of the tribals and hand over their water, forest, and land to the capitalists.

Responding to the PM, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Yesterday, Narendra Modi was holding a rally in Jharkhand. He made many promises at the time but all of them as false as those that came before. He had promised to create two crore jobs every year, he had promised to deposit `15 lakh in everyone’s account, he had promised to bring back black money from foreign bank accounts, he had promised to double the income of farmers. None of this was done since it was all a lie.”

Congress President, in a fierce counter to ‘batenge toh katenge’ call of Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, said that it was the BJP which was sowing the seeds of division among communities and also then going a step ahead to break the social fabric.

He said that the BJP leaders are giving such divisive calls as part of their agenda and also appealed to the people to break the vicious campaign if they want to change their lives for the better. “Dalits are denied entry into temple premises and other common places, poor and marginalised classes have to run from pillar to post in getting basic needs addressed,” he said.

‘Jhooton ka Sardar’: Shri Kharge throws jibe at Modi, says every guarantee PM has given has failed

Mumbai: Describing Narendra Modi as “Jhooton ka sardar”, Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Shri Mallikarjun Kharge on November 6, 2024, said that every guarantee that the Prime Minister has given has failed in the last decade. “I call Modi as ‘Jhooton ka sardar’…he makes fun of us…and our guarantees…but all the guarantees that he has given in the last 11 years have failed,” Congress President said addressing an inauguration rally of the Maha Vikas Aghadi at the Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai. “Let us speak of the guarantee that Modi has given in 11 years and what guarantee the UPA government has fulfilled in 10 years,” he said, speaking about the Manmohan Singh-led government at the Centre from 2004-14. “Modi’s guarantee is for Adani-Ambani,” said Shri Kharge. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shri Rahul Gandhi, Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar were present on the occasion. Earlier, they launched the five guarantees of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (I.N.D.I.A.) opposition block in the run-up to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly polls - a day after the BJP-led Maha Yuti (NDA) launched its 10 guarantees. Shri Kharge said that Modi has made several guarantees in the past, but the results are known. “Modi assured `15 lakhs in every bank account….has that happened?… he assured to give two crore jobs…has that happened?…he assured to double MSP…has that happened?…he did note-bandi (demonetisation)…how did it help?…where is the bullet train,” asked Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge.

Congress President’s Press Conference Decide between ‘Batenge toh katenge’ and ‘Ek hain toh safe hain’: Shri Kharge challenges BJP’s credibility

Nagpur: Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge on November 9, 2024, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misleading people through provocative speeches, divisive slogans and spreading misinformation about his Party.

Addressing a press conference in Nagpur ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections on November 20, Congress President said that the BJP was engaging in “baatna and kaatna” (dividing and slaughtering)—a reference to the “batenge to katenge” slogan popularised by Yogi Adityanath and later adopted by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Shri Kharge asked the BJP to decide between Uttar Pradesh’ Chief Minister’s divisive slogan and the one coined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently calling for unity. “While Yogi says, ‘Batenge toh katenge,’ Modi introduces the conflicting slogan, ‘Ek hain toh safe hain (If we’re united, we’re safe).’ I urge both leaders to come to a consensus on whose slogan should be followed—Yogiji’s or Modi’s?”

Shri Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the BJP for what he described as a strategy of distraction through provocative speeches and misinformation. “It is the BJP that must decide whether it wants to divide or unite the people,” he said. He added that the ruling party’s leaders focus only on inciting division and misleading the public rather than addressing pressing issues such as unemployment, the agrarian crisis, and declining law and order.

“I have responded to them in detail in Jharkhand and Maharashtra. Even now, I ask them to study our Karnataka budget. About `52,000 crore has been allocated for the five guarantee schemes in the budget, 47% of which has already been spent. They probably have not seen the budget,” he said in response to a question about Modi and BJP leaders targeting the Karnataka government’s guarantee schemes during their election campaign.

Shri Kharge then accused PM Modi of spreading falsehoods, saying, “It is shameful for a Prime Minister to speak such blatant lies and claim that Karnataka is not implementing the promised schemes.” He also challenged Modi to demonstrate that his government had fulfilled its key promises, such as recovering black money or doubling farmers’ incomes. “In my 60 years of public life, I have never witnessed a Prime Minister who lies so frequently and faces no consequences,” he said.

Kharge Ji urged voters not to trust the BJP, which he characterised as a party full of liars, and called for a decisive mandate for the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra. He accused the BJP of copying his Party’s guarantee schemes and making similar announcements in poll-bound states as part of its election rhetoric. “Everything is jumla (rhetoric). They speak things for the sake of elections, while the Congress always works for the welfare of the people,” he said.

Shri Kharge also alleged that Vidarbha had lost a lot of investment to Gujarat, saying that ‘two big leaders’ from the region didn’t do anything about it as they were concerned about saving their posts and did not care about the people’s interests. He was seemingly referring to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. He also asked the BJP to engage in a debate with the Congress and tell what work its government carried out in the last 11 years. “We will tell you about the work we have done in 55 years,” he said.

Congress President slams PM over blank Constitution remark, vows Caste Census

Mumbai: Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday for accusing Shri Rahul Gandhi of displaying a blank Constitution at a recent event. Speaking at the launch of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) poll Manifesto for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Kharge Ji dubbed the Prime Minister – ‘jhuto ka sardar’ (the king of liars). Modi Ji claimed that this red book is an urban Naxalite book and a piece of Marxist literature. Yet, in 2017, he himself presented the same book to then-President Ram Nath Kovind. He even said that it had blank pages, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge remarked.

Samvidhan Bachao Sammelan

Mallikarjun Kharge Ji’s indirect jibe at CM Yogi, says “leaders live in guise of sadhus, some became CM”

Mumbai: Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge took a jibe at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath without taking his name and said that many of the leaders live in the guise of sadhus and have now become politicians and some have even become Chief Minister as well. Speaking at the ‘Samvidhan Bachao Sammelan’ on November 10, 2024, the Congress President also slammed Adityanath for his recent ‘batoge toh katogey’ and accused him (Yogi) of spreading hatred.

“Many leaders live in the guise of sadhus and have now become politicians. Some have even become Chief Ministers. They wear ‘gerua’ clothes and have no hair on their heads...I would say to the BJP, either wear white clothes or if you are a sanyasi wear ‘gerua’ clothes, then get out of politics. On the one hand, you wear ‘gerua’ clothes and on the other hand, they are spreading hatred among the people and trying to divide them...,” he said.

Further coming down on BJP, Shri Kharge said, “BJP is coming up with new slogans these days. I just want to ask is there any danger in the country? If the country is in danger, it is from BJP-RSS. Because these are the people who talk about division and killing from morning to evening. We have always tried to keep the country united. Indira Gandhi ji was martyred for keeping the country united.”

Earlier in a day, Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge launched the joint manifesto for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance for the upcoming Assembly polls in Maharashtra and highlighted the five core areas the grouping will work towards for the State.

The Manifesto promises to give financial aid of Rs. 3000 to women in the state. Launching the joint Manifesto of MVA, ‘Maharashtra Nama,’ Kharge Ji said that the five pillars for the progress and development of Maharashtra is based on farming and rural development, industry and employment, urban development, environment, and public welfare. “... Our five guarantees will be helpful in the welfare of all in Maharashtra. Every family will receive an annual aid of about Rs. 3 lakh. Our Mahalakshmi scheme will give financial aid to all women, who will be given Rs. 3000 each, every month... We will launch a free bus service for the women of Maharashtra... We will give an amount of Rs. 50000 each to farmers who repay their loans on time,” the Congress President said.

“The youth seeking jobs will be given a Rs. 4000 monthly stipend... Our health insurance scheme of Rs. 25 lakh will be implemented in Maharashtra. We promise to provide free medicines as well... We have decided to do a caste census and we will remove the 50% ceiling on reservations, in line with Tamil Nadu,” he added.

BJP is government of thieves, they sold everything that Congress built, says Shri Kharge

Latur: In a scathing attack, Shri Kharge criticised the ruling party over the slogans —“batenge to katenge” and “ek hai to safe hai”, describing them as divisive. Campaigning for the November 20 Maharashtra Assembly elections in Latur, Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge termed the BJP-led Mahayuti dispensation as a government of thieves and called for its defeat at the hustings.

Congress President Shri Mallikarjun also criticized the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his slogan, “Batenge toh katenge” (divided we perish). The BJP has borrowed the slogans for the Maharashtra Assembly election from the Uttar Pradesh election campaign to prevent caste-based voting and consolidate Hindu votes. He accused him of spreading hatred among the people despite wearing ‘gerua’ (saffron) clothes. Chief Minister Yogi advised him not to get angry with him but the razakars of Nizam of Marathwad. “We are voicing - we are one, you are talking about ‘katneki’ aur ‘batneki’,” he added while addressing the people in the Akkalkot region of Maharashtra. He accused the BJP of having no role in India’s freedom movement. “Late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru brought mixed economy, introduced public and private joint sector, allowed private sector companies and co-operative banks, society, and mills for farmers,” he said. Also, he praised Congress initiatives such as the Right to Education Act, MNREGA, and the Right to Food Act, adding that BJP sold all this one-by-one to his friends Adani and Ambani. Pointing out the Prime Minister’s OBC card, he said, “Modi has only two friends and only they are backward as he pays immense attention to them and does not care for people.” “In this country, 5% of people have 62% of the country’s wealth, and 50% of poor people possess a wealth of 3%, he does not care about people, just does bhaiyo aur behno,” he added. Addressing another public meeting in the Latur district, he said, “Your security lies in the Constitution and if it is gone, you are done. Could not even provide the announced MSP for cotton and Soyabean.” He touched upon Congress’ poll promises of free six cylinders, Mahalakshmi yojana, a farm loan waiver of up to three lakhs, a 50,000 bonus on repayment of farm loans, `4,000 stipends for youth, caste census, and jobs. Concluding his speech, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Jyani 50 Khoke ghetla tyana ghari baswa, jar hi sandhi chukli tar milnar nahi (whoever took the money, make them sit at home).

Shri Mallikarjun Kharge slams BJP, defends Congress’ stance on Article 370

Pune: At a press conference in Pune on November 14, 2024, Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge countered the BJP allegations that Congress intends to reinstate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, calling the claims divisive and misleading. Kharge Ji emphasised that Article 370 was revoked by Parliament and accused the BJP of reviving the issue solely to create rifts. “If BJP truly believes it, let them say it openly in Kashmir now that elections are over,” Congress President said.

Shri Mallikarjun Kharge further denounced divisive rhetoric within the BJP, referencing statements that advocate for division within the nation. He highlighted Congress’ longstanding commitment to unity, recalling the sacrifices of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Mahatma Gandhi. “Congress has always worked for unity. While we sacrificed for the country, BJP neither contributed to India’s freedom nor to its welfare,” he asserted.

Congress President Shri Kharge also criticised the BJP for manipulating history to set figures like Nehru, Ambedkar, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Subhas Chandra Bose against each other. “Today, BJP praises the Constitution, but they once resisted it, even refusing to hoist the tricolour. Now, they selectively remember our Constitution’s values,” he said. Addressing economic issues, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted the widening wealth gap, noting that five per cent of India’s population controls 62 per cent of its wealth, while half of the population owns only three per cent. He accused the Modi administration of prioritizing wealthy allies, especially through privatisation of public sector enterprises. He also raised concerns over recent drug smuggling incidents at ports managed by Adani, pointing to large seizures and their harmful impact on cities like Pune, Bengaluru, and Punjab. Responding to doubts over Congress’ financial commitments in its Manifesto, Kharge Ji promised prudent budget management. “We work within budgets, not with ‘khoke’ (bribes) but with ‘doke’ (brains). In states like Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, we have successfully fulfilled our promises,” he affirmed.