JANJGIR-CHAMPA (Chhattisgarh) : In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge tore into the prime minister’s “negative campaign” in the Lok Sabha elections, accusing the BJP of seeking power to oppress the poor.
Hitting out at PM Modi, Kharge said, “This election is being fought to keep India united and save the Constitution and democracy. Modi and his followers say again and again that BJP will cross 400- figure. They are seeking 400-plus seats not for the welfare of the poor, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and backward caste….They are seeking it to take away the poor people’s rights.”
The Congress veteran also asked why RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had to clarify that they were not going to change the Constitution or end reservations if some BJP leader had not talked about such plans earlier.
Seeking votes in support of Congress candidate Shivkumar Dahariya, he said, “This candidate is Shivkumar Dahariya. His name is Shivkumar – ‘barabar ye Ram ka muqabla kar sakta hai kyunki ye Shiv hai’ (He can compete with Ram because he is Shiva). I am also Mallikarjun. (Main bhi Shiv hoon).”
Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge slammed PM Modi Modi acusing him of using divisive language in the elections, “They (BJP) have the expertise to make videos and defame people through social media… Whatever work they do to ruin the image of people, we will never do it. We only want that the country should remain one, and everyone should work together. There should be no hate speech. PM Modi always gives hate speech…PM Modi should not talk like this at least in elections. But they are doing it. That’s why I appeal, at least have a little patience, don’t talk like this with frustration…”
Chhattisgarh, a critical state in the Hindi heartland, has 11 parliamentary seats. In the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, only Bastar voted on April 19 while voting in Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund, and Kanker was concluded on April 26. In the third phase (May 7), voting will take place in Surguja, Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Korba, Bilaspur, Durg, and Raipur.
The counting of votes will be held on June 4.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dominated Chhattisgarh, winning nine out of the 11 seats, leaving Congress with only two. (ANI)