Bihar

Nitish Kumar switches sides for ‘kursi’, his alliance with BJP opportunistic: Shri Mallikarjun Kharge

Buxar (Bihar): Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge on April 20, 2025, launched a scathing attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of switching political sides solely for ‘kursi’ (chair) and described the JD(U)-BJP alliance in Bihar as “opportunistic”.

Speaking at the Congress’ ‘Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan’ rally at Dalsagar stadium in Buxar, Congress President urged the people of Bihar to vote out the NDA government in the upcoming assembly elections later this year.

“The alliance between Nitish Kumar and the BJP is opportunistic. It is not good for the people of the state. Nitish Kumar switches sides just for ‘kursi’ (CM’s post). The JD(U) Chief has joined hands with the ideology that killed Mahatma Gandhi,” he said. He also referred to the recent Parliament session, alleging that the government focused more on divisive issues than development. “Recently, the budget session of the Parliament ended. The most discussed topic in that session was the Wakf Bill. Modi Ji and the BJP leaders feel that if votes can be obtained by talking about Hindus and Muslims and misleading the public, then what is the need to work?” he said. “The Waqf (Amendment) Bill passed by Parliament is a conspiracy of the BJP and the RSS to create a divide among communities,” Shri Mallikarjun Kharge alleged. Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over past promises, he questioned the status of the special financial package announced years ago. “People of Bihar must ask Nitish Kumar what happened to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise of a ` 1.25 lakh crore package for Bihar, which he had made on August 18, 2015? Modi Ji is running a factory of lies,” Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge claimed. He concluded by calling on voters to support the opposition bloc in the state. The NDA government, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge said, should be voted out in the upcoming assembly polls, urging people to “vote for ‘Mahagathbandhan’ parties in the next state elections.”

Kharge Ji on National Herald case

Reacting to the recent charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge said that the move was aimed at politically targeting the Party.

“This has been done to target Congress. Our leaders can’t be scared. Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for the country,” he said. He also criticized the BJP and RSS, accusing them of being indifferent to the interests of marginalized communities. “They are against the poor, women, and the weaker sections of society….they (RSS-BJP) can’t think for the betterment of society. They believe in dividing society based on caste and religion,” he claimed. The 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly is scheduled to go to the polls later this year. u

Rajasthan

Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge slams PM Modi for skipping All-Party meet on Pahalgam as Congress launches ‘Save Constitution’ in Rajasthan

Jaipur: Launching an all-out attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP at the ‘Save the Constitution’ rally in Jaipur, Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge on April 28, 2025, accused the PM of putting party and politics above country by absenting himself from the All-Party meeting convened to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, and choosing, instead, to attend an election rally in Bihar.

He was in Jaipur to launch the ‘Save Constitution’ campaign of the Congress in Rajasthan with a massive public rally in the Rajasthan capital. As part of the campaign, Congress workers will go door-to-door—first at the district level, followed by the assembly and booth levels—to raise awareness among citizens about what the Party alleges are the BJP government’s attempts to undermine the Constitution.

During his address, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge asserted, “It is the misfortune of the country that when the nation’s self-respect was hurt, the Prime Minister was busy delivering an election speech in Bihar.”

“Leaders of all parties attended the All-Party meeting, but it is unfortunate that Prime Minister Modi did not. Was Bihar too far? The Prime Minister should have come to the All-Party meeting and explained the government’s plan,” he said.

Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge also criticized the BJP over a recent controversy in Rajasthan involving the washing of a temple with Gangajal by a leader with a moustache after Leader of Opposition Tikaram Julie’s visit in Alwar District. Where has the talk of Hindu unity gone now? Before elections, Amit Shah and his followers would visit Dalit households and have meals there. Yet, Dalits and OBCs are still denied the right to drink water from public ponds and touch idols that they themselves create. Shah and Modi are trying to make Dalits and OBCs bow down, but they will not.”

Angered over Union Home minister Amit Shah’s controversial statement on BR Ambedkar in Parliament, the Congress President added, “These people take Baba Saheb’s name repeatedly. They say if people uttered God’s name as many times as they did Ambedkar’s they would achieve salvation. This is who they are. They cast aspersion on those who worked and went to heaven. Now let Yamraj decide whether liars will get a spot in heaven or not.”

Continuing his attack, Kharge Ji accused Modi of making “12 false promises” to the people. “All their promises - bringing back black money, depositing Rs. 15 lakh into every citizen’s account, creating 2 crore jobs annually, ensuring cheap petrol and diesel, cleaning the Ganga, providing housing for all, guaranteeing MSP for farmers, and ending inflation - have proven to be false,” Congress President said.

Other senior Congress leaders were present, including former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, AICC General Secretary Shri Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee President Shri Govind Singh Dotasara, Leader of Opposition Shri Tikaram Julie, also addressed the gathering, criticized the BJP and accused the central government of weakening democratic institutions. The Congress announced that following today’s rally, district-level ‘Save Constitution’ rallies will be held across Rajasthan from May 3 to May 10, followed by assembly-level rallies between May 11 and May 17. A booth-level campaign will be launched from May 20 to May 30, during which Congress workers will conduct door-to-door outreach to educate citizens about what they describe as efforts by the central government to erode democracy and constitutional values.

Jharkhand

Following intelligence input, PM Modi cancelled Kashmir trip prior to Pahalgam attack: Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge

Ranchi (Jharkhand): Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge on May 6, 2025, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intelligence input about a possible terror attack in Kashmir three days prior to the Pahalgam incident, following which he cancelled his own Kashmir trip.

Launching a scathing attack on the Centre’s handling of national security during his address at the ‘Samvidhan Bachao Rally’ at Old Vidhansabha Ground in Jharkhand’s Ranchi, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge accused the govt. of failing to act on prior intelligence and neglecting to take significant steps in the attack aftermath.

“The country witnessed a horrific terror attack on April 22, claiming the lives of 26 innocent people. The govt. also has admitted its intelligence failure in an All-Party meeting. According to news reports, Prime Minister Modi received intelligence inputs about the attack three days before the attack and he cancelled his visit to Kashmir. The question is, if the govt. had information about the attack, why were precautionary measures not taken to secure civilians’ lives? The govt. has failed to protect the people of the country,” he said at the gathering.

Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said that if the Government had accepted the intelligence failure, then Modi ji should also take the responsibility for the 26 people who lost their lives in the terror attack.

Fight against terror

Expressing concern over terrorism, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge stressed that the Congress had told the Government that in the fight against terrorism and Pakistan, we were fully with them. “If the Government takes any step against Pakistan, we stand with them,” Congress President said.

It was his first visit to Jharkhand after the formation of the coalition Government led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren. He thanked the people of Jharkhand, saying that because of them, the INDIA bloc had secured a majority.

Attacking the Modi Government over Mr. Soren being sent to jail before the Assembly election in Jharkhand last year, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge said, “On one hand, the Central Government says that all States of the country and their people will live together in harmony. But on the other hand, the same people send our Chief Minister to jail to break the unity of the Opposition. ‘Our vote, your rule’, this won’t do.”

He added, “If the vote is ours, the State will be ours too. Narendra Modi ji, do not try to intimidate the tribals and the poor. They are not the ones to be scared. The poor and labourers of our country work hard to earn their living and live with dignity. We are actually worried about you — you need AC, lights, and a suit worth ` 10 lakh.”

Lashing out at the Modi Government over non-payments of salaries to the technicians of Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC), Ranchi, he said - employees of public sector undertakings (PSUs) did not receive salaries for months, and PM Modi says everyone was very happy.

“This is Narendra Modi’s policy — shut down PSUs and snatch jobs from Dalits, Adivasis, and backward classes. There are 30 lakh vacant Government jobs, but they are not being filled. These posts are not being filled because the poor would start getting jobs. Narendra Modi says — ‘The country is becoming economically strong’, but the truth is that the country’s poor are getting nothing,” Congress President said.

He also accused the Modi Government of harassing and ruining the poor. Accompanied by Congress General Secretary Shri K.C. Venugopal, Jharkhand AICC Congress in-charge Shri K. Raju and Jharkhand Pradesh Congress President Shri Keshav Mahto Kamlesh and other leaders.