New Delhi: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of repeatedly using divisive language during the Lok Sabha election campaign. Kharge alleged that PM Modi mentioned 'mandir-masjid' and other sensitive topics 421 times, despite Election Commission guidelines prohibiting appeals for votes based on caste and religion.
Congress chief criticised PM Modi for his campaign rhetoric, stating that in the last 15 days of campaigning, PM Modi mentioned his own name 758 times and the Congress party's name 232 times, yet failed to address the issue of unemployment even once.
According to the Congress chief, Prime Minister Modi spoke about 'mandir-masjid' and divisive issues 421 times during the poll campaign despite the Election Commission's direction of no appeal for votes on caste and religion.
"Modi also used words like Muslim, Pakistan and minority 224 times, but the Election Commission did not take any action on this, Kharge said.He lowered the dignity of the prime minister's post," he alleged.
He also said Modi in his speeches in the last 15 days took the Congress' name 232 times, the name of INDIA bloc and opposition parties 573 times and his own name 758 times.
"This election for the 18th Lok Sabha will be remembered for a long time because, in this election, every citizen of the country has come together to save democracy and the Constitution, forgetting caste, creed, religion, region, gender, language".
"The PM and leaders of the BJP made countless efforts to mislead the people on religious and divisive issues. Despite this, the people chose issues and we asked for votes on issues," Kharge said addressing a presser.
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Kharge also took a dig at PM Modi for his remarks in an interview where the PM said, "No one knew about Mahatma Gandhi until the movie was made," saying that the PM "may not have studied about Gandhi."
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"Yesterday, PM Modi told the world that he got to know about Mahatma Gandhi after watching the film by Richard Attenborough. I feel like laughing when I hear the prime minister say this. Had he read about Mahatma Gandhi, he wouldn't have said so," the Congress president said.
Kharge recommended that PM Modi read Gandhi's autobiography when he has free time after June 4. Kharge expressed confidence in the Congress-led I.N.D.I.A bloc forming a government with a clear majority in the Lok Sabha elections.
He said that the people will endorse the view that another chance for the current government would endanger democracy, emphasizing the need for an alternative government.