MUMBAI: Congress National President 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.
Kharge was targeting Yogi Adityanath who is also the head priest of Gorakhnath Math in Gorakhpur.
Speaking at the Samvidhan Bachao Sammelan’ on Sunday, the Congress President also slammed Adityanath for his recent ‘batoge toh katogey’ (If we divide, we will be cut), a slogan calling for Hindu unity, 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, you say ‘batoge toh katogey’…They are spreading hatred among the people and trying to divide them…,” Kharge said.
Further coming down on BJP, 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.”
Kharge also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused him of not intreacting with media. “In the old times, the head of the government used to meet and talk to opposition leaders. But today, leave alone opposition leaders, Narendra Modi does not even meet people from the press.”
Earlier on Sunday, 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 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 was started by Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan and it will be implemented in Maharashtra as well. 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.” Kharge added.
Maharashtra polls are scheduled for November 20 and counting will be held on November 23. As the elections for the 288 seats in the Assembly approach closer, the political battle between the two major alliances, the Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), intensifies. (ANI)