Launching BJP’s campaign for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls, Modi had mentioned ‘Ek Hai to Safe Hai’ while accusing the Congress of trying to divide OBCs, SCs and STs….reports Asian Lite News
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday criticised the “Ek Hai to Safe Hai” and “Batenge to Katenge” slogans, claiming threat to India from the RSS, BJP, PM Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Addressing a ‘Save Constitution’ conference in Mumbai, Kharge targeted the prime minister, alleging discussions and debate are not allowed in Parliament.
“The prime minister says ‘Ek Hai to Safe Hai’ while other leaders (of BJP) talk about ‘Batenge to Katenge’ (divided we fall). Who is threatened? Is there any problem? In fact, the country faces threat from RSS, BJP, Modi, and (Union home minister Amit) Shah,” Kharge said.
Launching BJP’s campaign for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls, Modi had mentioned ‘Ek Hai to Safe Hai’ while accusing the Congress of trying to divide OBCs, SCs and STs.
Yogi Adityanath’s ‘Batenge to Katenge’ slogan, viewed as a call for Hindus to stay united, is also gaining traction. Continuing his tirade against Modi, Kharge wondered whether he could be termed as a democratic prime minister.
“Issues can be resolved through discussions which will strengthen democracy. But they (BJP) want to dismantle democracy,” the Congress veteran alleged. According to Kharge, political decorum is not maintained under Modi’s leadership, unlike the days of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
“Vajpayee, Nehru, and Indira Gandhi mutually respected each other despite their political differences. But Modi constantly attacks us and we had to respond,” he said. Kharge was in Mumbai to unveil the manifesto of Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP), for the assembly elections.
The MVA and ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance are locked in a fierce contest for political supremacy in the western state. Kharge accused the BJP of distorting issues and dividing people. “BJP and RSS have already divided people. We work to unite people,” he said.
He alleged that whenever BJP realises that it cannot win elections and form a government, it uses ED, CBI and other Central agencies against its political adversaries. “How long the Central agencies will continue to intimidate politicians and put them in jail? We are fighting against the government with a strong resolve,” Kharge said.
NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule said the Sharad Pawar-led faction and Shiv Sena (UBT) will continue their legal battle in the Supreme Court to freeze the symbols allotted to the rival factions. “We feel our new symbols are better than the previous ones,” she said, adding that their fight against BJP is of ideology and principles and not personal.
Shah takes a jibe at Uddhav Thackeray
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday hit out at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party for “insulting” Veer Savarkar.
He challenged Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to ask Rahul Gandhi to praise Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
“I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray from this stage. Can he ask Rahul Gandhi to say something good about Veer Savarkar? Can any Congress leader speak something to honour Balasaheb Thackeray? This is an internal (ideological) difference. People of Maharashtra should take note of such contradictions in the MVA alliance,” Shah said while addressing an election rally in Mumbai.
Shah also accused Rahul Gandhi of insulting the Constitution and Babasaheb Ambedkar.
“When a friend from the media (a media person) opened the cover of the Constitution that Rahul Gandhi was waving and reminding the Parliament about Babasaheb Ambedkar’s resolves, there was nothing inside. There cannot be a bigger insult than this of the Indian Constitution. This is also an insult to the Constituent Assembly and Babasaheb Ambedkar,” he said.
Attacking Congress party further, he accused the party of indulging in ‘appeasement politics’ by readily accepting the demands by Ulema that reservations be given to Muslim minorities.
“Congress leader Nana Patole has given an acknowledgement letter accepting such demands. I want to ask the people of Maharashtra, are you fine with this? Are the people of Maharashtra fine with this idea of giving reservations that belong to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and OBCs to Muslims? Our constitution does not allow reservation on the basis of religion. But Congress has promised this even before coming to power. I want to warn the people of Maharashtra to take note of this,” the Home Minister said.
Notably, in 2023, Rahul Gandhi had made remarks against Savarkar calling him a “coward” for which he was made party in a defamation case filed by Savarkar’s kin.
Shah also took a dig at Uddhav Thackeray and said, “Uddhav ji, I can’t decide where you sit. But I want to tell you that you’re sitting with those who opposed the abrogation of Article 370. You’re sitting with those who opposed the construction of Ram Janambhoomi temple. You’re sitting with those who speak ill of Savarkar. You’re sitting with those who opposed CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and UCC (Uniform Civil Code).”
Amit Shah launched the Sankalp Patra (manifesto) of BJP offering 25 guarantees. He was accompanied by various senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who said that through this manifesto PM Modi’s visions are being realised in Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with votes for all 288 constituencies to be counted on November 23.
The opposition MVA coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), seeks to reclaim power in the state, challenging the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. (ANI)
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