Kharge accuses BJP of "divisive politics", says Mahayuti government formed in Maharashtra by breaking parties

Addressing a press conference here, Kharge said that Mahayuti government has not been formed on the basis of any ideology but by breaking the MLAs of undivided Shiv Sena and NCP.

While Kharge campaigned in Maharashtra, party leader Rahul Gandhi sought votes for Congress and JMM-led alliance in Jharkhand.

Kharge visited Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, a memorial dedicated to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar

In his press conference, Kharge targeted BJP over slogan 'batenge to katenge', saying it was divisive.

The Congress president said while UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was raising the slogan of 'batenge toh katenge', Prime Minister Narendra Modi was saying, 'ek hain toh safe hain'.

He said it seems "there was a competition" between PM Modi and Yogi Adityanath for coining such slogans that they should decide "whose slogan should be propagated".

The Congress president also taunted the claims of nationalism and patriotism by the BJP leaders challenging them to name a single leader of theirs who had sacrificed his life for the country like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Referring to the ruling Mahayuti coalition government in Maharashtra, he said, its foundations were "laid down on fraud".

He alleged that BJP stole a popular mandate and it was "an opportunistic alliance" with worst type of governance.

Kharge said Maharashtra used to be one of the most prosperous states in the country with people coming from different places to work and earn their livelihood here but the scenario has changed.

Kharge said there was widespread unemployment among youth, distress among farmers besides rising problem of drug addiction. He also said that women were no longer feeling safe in Maharashtra.

The Congress president said, the coming assembly polls are an opportunity to put Maharashtra back on the path of progress and development. He said despite the BJP deputing central and state ministers in each of the 288 assembly segments, the opposition MVA will win the elections here.

Kharge alleged that PM Modi speaks lies and does so loudly. He said PM Modi had not fulfilled his promises of depositing Rs 15 lakhs in every Indian's bank account after getting back the black money allegedly stashed in foreign banks, providing 2 crore jobs every year and doubling the farmers' income.

Kharge said that the Bharatiya Janata Party wants to come into power by any means.

"In Maharashtra, there are many issues like unemployment, injustice with farmers, youth, drugs...Women are not safe in Maharashtra. For people who used to come to Maharashtra from other states for employment, this is no longer the case. After the formation of the BJP government in Maharashtra there is misgovernance in the state. Through these elections, we again have to bring Maharashtra on the path of progress. For this, a good government has to be formed in Maharashtra," he said.

"All the leaders of the BJP are campaigning in Maharashtra to ensure that they come into power again. But this won't be possible. The Maharashtra government is not formed on any ideology; they just want to come into power by any means. They formed the government by breaking MLAs," he added.

The Congress President also alleged that the BJP people give such provocative speeches that they try to divert people from the real issues.

Kharge said that rather than "divisive slogans," BJP should seek votes on the basis of its work.

"Why they do this. You ask for votes based on your work and if people agree with it, they will vote for you. I have 53 years of experience and have contested at least 13 elections and except in 2019, I have been winning continuously because I believe in principles. If you work with faith in your ideology, then people will definitely vote for you," Kharge said.

Kharge, who later addressed a public gathering, countered PM Modi's "empty Constitution" allegations against the Congress.

He asked Congress candidate Nitin Raut to send a copy of the Constitution to PM Modi.

"This is the Constitution; it has everything inside it. He (PM Modi) said the pages of this red book which Rahul Gandhi reads is blank. He said it is 'kora kaagaz'...Read this, is it blank? I would request Nitin Raut to send a copy of this book to him. Sahab ismein sab likha hua hai (Sir, everything is written in it)," he said.

PM Modi has been attacking Congress and Rahul Gandhi, saying the "Laal Kitab" of the Constitution which the Congress was flaunting contained "nothing".

"In 'farziwada', Congress has broken its own record. The 'Laal Kitab' of the Constitution which the Congress party was flaunting and distributing contained 'nothing'. It was an empty book. This is nothing but a testament to Congress' disregard and hate for Baba Saheb Ambedkar. The entire country is in shock over this foolish and unfortunate political play of Congress," PM Modi had said

Referring to BJP leaders, Kharge said that some people have now started to honour Babasaheb, who, until a few years ago, never spoke about him.

"They used to say that Babasaheb's constitution was not right for them and that if it had to be made, it should be based on 'Manusmriti'. Today, Modiji comes to Nagpur and pays tribute to Babasaheb's photo. I want to ask the people of BJP why there was no photo of Ambedkar in their offices before," Kharge asked.

"If Narendra Modi had the majority, who knows how many changes he would have made to the Constitution. But he did not get the majority. Modiji stands on two legs, and both are artificial. One leg is TDP, and the other is JD(U)...if anything happens to the Constitution, RSS and Modi Ji will be responsible because their ideology says so," he said.

Kharge said Congress has fulfilled the guarantees it made in Karnataka.

"Modiji says that all of Congress' guarantees are lies. If so, tell us what is a lie. We have fulfilled guarantees in Telangana, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh. In Karnataka's budget, we had set aside funds for the Greh Laxmi Yojana. We allocated a budget of Rs 9,657 crore of which Rs 5,164 crores have been spent. For the Shakti Scheme, which provided free bus travel for women, a budget of Rs 5,000 crores was set, of which Rs 2,708 crores have been spent," Kharge said.

Rahul Gandhi, who addressed rally in Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, said that there is a battle of ideologies in the country with the INDIA bloc standing for love, unity and protecting the Constitution and the BJP-RSS seeking to divide people.

He urged people to bring back JMM-led alliance to power. He said Congress and its allies will continue to work for protecting the Constitution.

"There is a battle of ideologies in the country. On one side is the INDIA bloc, and on the other is the BJP and RSS. On one side, there is love, unity, and brotherhood, on the other side, hatred, violence, anger, and arrogance. The INDIA Bloc stands for protecting the Constitution, while the BJP-RSS wants to destroy it," he said.

Listing the promises by the alliance, Gandhi, who is Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, said that the INDIA bloc government will transfer Rs 2,500 to every woman's bank account every month.

"The INDIA Bloc in Jharkhand has decided that the money currently given to billionaires by the BJP will instead be deposited into your bank accounts. Inflation affects women the most, they are the backbone of this nation. That's why we have created the biggest scheme in Jharkhand for women. Right after winning the election, the INDIA Bloc will transfer Rs 2,500 to every woman's account each month. You will receive this money in your bank account on the first of every month," he said.

"Every person will receive seven kg of ration each month, and gas cylinders will be priced at Rs 450. This is our first guarantee. In Jharkhand, if anyone falls ill, we will introduce a new health insurance scheme. Any operation you need will be covered, with the Jharkhand government providing up to Rs 15 lakh for treatment right after taking office. This is our second promise. Farmers will receive Rs 3,200 per quintal for paddy," he added.

Rahul Gandhi said that if people have money to spend, it helps the economic cycle."If you have money, you'll buy something, which will start factories and provide employment for your children. This is our idea. Narendra Modi has made the youth unemployed, but we will establish a degree college in every block for your education and a professional college in every district. A 500-acre industrial park will open in every district for youth employment. We are going to provide jobs to 10 lakh youth in Jharkhand in both the private and public sectors," the Congress leader said.

He said the Congress will take steps to remove 50 per cent cap on reservations if it comes to power at the Centre.

"I have made it clear in Parliament that the Congress party and INDIA Bloc will remove this 50 percent barrier. In Jharkhand, the Dalit reservation will increase from 10 percent to 12 percent, the tribal reservation from 26 percent to 28 percent, and the backward class reservation from 24 percent to 27 percent," he said.

The Congress leader also reiterated his demand for caste census. Elections will be held in 81 seats in Jharkhand in two phases on November 13 and 20. Maharashtra Assembly elections for 288 seats will be held on November 20. Votes will be counted on November 23. (ANI)