New Delhi: Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Muslim league' remarks on the Congress manifesto, the grand old party's leaders took the matter to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The Congress hit out at PM Modi over his 'Muslim League imprint' remarks on the party's manifesto, saying he is scared over the prospect of the BJP struggling to cross the 180-seat mark in the Lok Sabha polls and has again resorted to the same cliched Hindu-Muslim script.
Senior advocate and Congress leader Salman Khurshid said, "We are extremely saddened by this matter and we understand that the Prime Minister has no right to say such a thing. You can do a degree anywhere with any other party, you can argue it, you can dissect it, but to say that a national level party which has been involved in our national movement would write such a bundle of lies in its manifesto, whereas a very good manifesto has been written", reported ANI.
Congress leader Pawan Khera also voiced his opinion, stating, "We raised many issues, we lodged a strong objection to the way the Prime Minister gave the status of Muslim League to our manifesto. We also expressed our views on the Prime Minister's holdings in universities...Since elections have just been declared, the Election Commission should recommend whoever it wants to remove or not, the ministry is currently a caretaker government, and they do not have the right to impose restrictions on freedom of speech like this".
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Mallikarjun Kharge Slams PM Modi
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that with the BJP's electoral situation worsening day by day, the RSS is "remembering its old friend" the Muslim League. The opposition's response came a day after PM Modi's criticism of the Congress, accusing its manifesto of bearing the imprint of the Muslim League and its leaders of displaying hostility towards national integrity and Sanatan Dharma, reported PTI.
Kharge took to social media and posted on X, "The political and ideological ancestors of Modi and Shah supported the British and the Muslim League against the Indians in the freedom movement. Even today, they are invoking the Muslim League against the 'Congress Nyay Patra' which was prepared with the contributions of common Indians".
At a press conference held at the AICC headquarters, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate criticised the BJP, claiming that it's declining popularity has prompted PM Modi to revive his rhetoric against the Muslim League.
Taking a swipe at PM Modi she added, "After being in power for 10 years, when the country is at the brink of elections and the prime minister has to show his report card and ask for votes, he is nervous. He has once again resorted to the same cliched Hindu-Muslim script".
She later called the manifesto of Congress, the voice of India based on the five pillars of justice.