Mhow (Madhya Pradesh): The Congress presented the “Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan rally” held here Monday as an effort to reinforce its social justice pitch, which helped the party secure gains in the 2024 general election. But, in speeches at the rally which saw a huge turnout, the top leadership of the Congress seemed intent on expanding their attack by also confronting the BJP over the question of blending religion with politics.
“Will taking dips in Ganga help bring food onto your plates? Will it help end poverty?” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asked, accusing BJP leaders of playing for the cameras by taking dips in the Ganga—an apparent reference to the ongoing Maha Kumbh.
“I don’t question anyone’s faith. I apologise if I have hurt anyone’s sentiments. But tell me, on one hand children are starving, not going to school, labourers are unable to earn; on the other hand, these people are competing among themselves in taking dips by spending thousands of crore. They do so for the television cameras,” said the 82-year-old.
Kharge stated that while the Congress has no objection to the personal beliefs and faith of people, it is “opposed to exploitation of the poor in the name of religion”.
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Speaking in the same vein, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi suggested that even as the masses remained in the thrall of religious issues, they were being “turned into slaves”.
“You are being turned into slaves. Dalits, Adivasis, and backward castes are being made slaves. Your lives are being destroyed, and you are just silently watching. I find this confounding,” said Rahul. He also said the poor, including farmers, Dalits, tribals, and backward castes, were notably absent at the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
He further criticised the treatment of President Droupadi Murmu, a tribal woman, who he said was not allowed entry into the temple. “Even when the new Parliament building was inaugurated, the President wasn’t invited,” he said, prompting applause from the audience.
The event, which saw the presence of the Congress’s top leaders from across states, was held in Mhow—the birthplace of Dalit icon B.R. Ambedkar.
At one point, Kharge, who spoke after Rahul, chided the crowd for getting restive after the latter’s speech. As the crowd settled down, the Congress chief tore into the BJP-RSS leadership, making remarks that invited censure from the ruling party.
Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha during the last winter session of Parliament, Kharge said the duo of PM Modi and Shah will be “cursed” by the people for the “sins they have committed”.
“Modi and Shah have committed so many sins that they will not attain heaven even in their next 100 births, let aside seven,” Kharge said. Shah had said during a debate on the Constitution that it had become a fashion to take the name of Ambedkar. “Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata,” the Union minister had said.
(If they had taken God’s name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven)
Rahul reiterated his call for a nationwide caste census, emphasising that it was necessary to understand distribution of wealth among marginalized groups.
He also criticised the Centre’s handling of economic issues, claiming that even IIT and IIM graduates were struggling to find jobs. “Before the Constitution, the poor in this country had no rights. Before Independence, the poor, Dalits, backward, Adivasis had no rights. Only the maharajas and rajas (kings) enjoyed rights. The BJP-RSS want the system that prevailed before Independence to be reinstated,” Rahul said.
He added, “Your children will not get employment in this country, no matter what. This country’s youth will not get employment. Even IIT and IIM graduates are not getting jobs. You are giving lakhs to billionaires, who have destroyed the economy, avenues of income.”
Rahul also criticised the growing economic disparity, pointing to the lavish weddings of billionaires while ordinary people struggle to make ends meet.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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