Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday over his remarks such as the party’s manifesto had the “stamp of the Muslim League” and that the party would even “snatch women’s mangalsutras” if voted to power.
“Anyone who is a little correct mentally, (has) a mind balance will not make such statements. What has happened to Modi, I don’t know,” he said during a Lok Sabha election rally at Afzalpur in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district.
“PM Modi says that if the Congress comes to power it will snatch your mangalsutra. What kind of PM is this? He should be ashamed,” Kharge told the rally.
“To help the youth and give them more employment opportunities, (the manifesto promises) apprenticeship and filling 30 lakh vacancies. Does it mean we are giving that only to Muslims? Whoever is eligible, irrespective of their religion, will be given. Nari Nyay promises Rs 1 lakh per year for women in the manifesto. Is this only for Muslims?” he said.
Kharge said the Congress had ruled the country for 55 years. “Show us one instance where we snatched from one and gave it to another. We did a lot of reforms and helped the poor and did not snatch,” he said.
During wars, Congress leaders Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi donated their gold and other belongings, Kharge further said. When Rahul Gandhi was suspended from Parliament, he stayed at his mothers’ place, he added.
“Yet Modi accuses the Gandhi family of wrongdoing. Since 1989, none from the Gandhi family have been CMs or ministers. Yet, Modi talks about them. If they have looted money, what stops you from recovering it?” Kharge asked.
Kharge was speaking at the first of three rallies scheduled in the Gulbarga and Bidar constituencies to seek votes for Congress candidates. Both the constituencies will vote on May 7 in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections.