Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP-led Centre of trying to remove secularism and socialism from the Constitution and weaken tribal rights. Rahul Gandhi claimed the BJP is attempting to hijack the upcoming Bihar elections, just like in Maharashtra, and slammed the Election Commission for siding with the ruling party.
Congress leader and LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi (left) with Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Odisha on Friday. PIC/PTI
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday alleged that the BJP-led central government was attempting to omit secularism and socialism from the Constitution. Addressing the party’s ‘Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh’ here, Kharge also said the tribals, dalits, women and youths were not safe under the BJP rule.
“The saffron party has a mission to change the Constitution... The BJP government at the Centre is attempting to omit secularism and socialism from our Constitution,” he asserted. Kharge said the Congress had introduced the Forest Rights Act in 2006 to protect the poor and tribals. However, the Narendra Modi-led government is trying to weaken the legislation, he alleged.
“In the name of industry, the BJP government is destroying forests everywhere... They will also wipe out dalits, tribals and youths unless they learn to fight for their rights,” claimed the Congress chief. Kharge also accused BJP supporters in Odisha of attacking dalits and government officers in Odisha. “Two dalit men were recently tonsured, made to crawl on their knees, forced to eat grass and drink dirty water in Odisha’s Ganjam... A government officer in Bhubaneswar was also assaulted in full public view,” alleged Kharge.
Hitting out at the Centre, he also said that the Congress government set up 160 PSUs in India, while the BJP dispensation “privatised 23 of those”. “Modi is selling public assets created by the Congress to his friends. He has only one agenda — to destroy the Constitution.
BJP hijacking elections: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the BJP of making attempts to “hijack upcoming elections in Bihar, as it did in Maharashtra”. “Like Maharashtra, attempts are being made to hijack the elections in Bihar. The BJP is attacking our Constitution across the country,” Gandhi alleged. During an INDIA bloc meeting held on Thursday, it was decided to “prevent the BJP from hijacking the elections in Bihar” where assembly polls are due later this year, claimed Gandhi. He also accused the Election Commission of “not doing its duty but working for the interest of the BJP”. Gandhi also alleged, “Odisha is being looted by the BJP government, similar to what the BJD did during its tenure.”
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
