Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders of I.N.D.I.A bloc lashed out against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday over his remarks that the opposition alliance, if elected, would bulldoze the Ayodhya Ram temple.
During a joint press conference in Mumbai for the May 20 Lok Sabha polls, Kharge, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar responded to Modi's accusations that the opposition bloc would destroy the Ram temple, reduce quotas for SC, ST, and OBC categories, and reinstate Article 370 if they came to power. They assured that they were committed to protecting the religious freedom of all citizens and guarantee that the country runs in accordance with the Constitution.
Kharge accused PM Modi of stirring up issues that "the Congress will never do", news agency PTI reported. Thackeray asserted that the I.N.D.I.A bloc would complete the Ram temple in Ayodhya, while Pawar emphasised that their government would protect places of worship for all religions.
Kharge reiterated that reservations as defined in the Constitution would remain intact. "We have never used a bulldozer on anyone. Modi has the habit of lying and inciting people about things which Congress will never do or which are impossible to implement," he said.
"We have never used a bulldozer on anyone. Bulldozer is their government. This comment is to instigate and the Election Commission should take action against him. Our government will function as per the Constitution. We will protect everything,'' Kharge underscored, as quoted by PTI.
After a question on his party's stand on Article 370, Kharge outlined, "I am not answerable to Modi. We will implement what we have promised in our manifesto." He attacked PM Modi saying, "Wherever he goes, he tries to create division, speaks of dividing society."
Kharge stated that Modi has mentioned giving away 5 kg of free rations to 80 crore people. "Our government enacted the Food Security Act and it is bound to implement it. The Congress has now said that we will give 10 kg free ration," he said.
Hitting out at PM Modi for labelling the Congress's manifesto as that of 'Maoists' Kharge questioned "Who is your advisor Modiji...This is laughable. You can't fool all the people every time."
Kharge also criticised Modi's speech as divisive and provocative, stating, "I have never seen such a prime minister."
Meanwhile, Pawar mentioned that while the previous government had introduced the Food Security Act, Modi is now taking credit for providing 5 kg of free ration.
I.N.D.I.A Has Several PM faces: Uddhav Thackeray
Thackeray pointed out that the I.N.D.I.A bloc has several potential prime minister faces in contrast to the BJP, where it has only one candidate who is not working. "Now they cannot replace the face at the fag end of poll campaign. We have decided what we should do when we get the majority," he said.
In an attack on the BJP and Prime Minister Modi, Thackeray claimed that the BJP would also refer to the RSS as "nakli Sangh" and called his party "nakli" (fake) Shiv Sena.
Thackeray mocked the statement of BJP chief J P Nadda that the BJP operates independently of the RSS, criticising the BJP of distancing itself from the organisation that birthed it. He predicted the end of the "jumla era" and the arrival of "achhe din" with the INDIA alliance's victory, PTI reported.
Thackeray and Kharge accused the BJP-led government of misusing central investigative agencies and pledged that the I.N.D.I.A alliance would restore Mumbai and Maharashtra's lost glory.
Kharge criticised Modi for campaigning for a state government formed through betrayal, stating, "In my 53 years in politics, I have never seen a PM who incites and divides people." He claimed that Modi uses threats, blackmail, and bribery to weaken opposition parties but predicted that the people would reject him, with the opposition winning 46 of Maharashtra's 48 Lok Sabha seats.
"We will simplify GST. People of India are looking at INDIA alliance with hope," he said, While speaking at events, Thackeray used the term "deshbhakt" (patriot) rather than "Hindu," and the BJP made fun of him for it. "Aren't Hindus deshbhakts?...Those who oppose the word deshbhakts are anti-national," he said.
"Pakistan is in BJP's mind. Perhaps Modi still relishes (former Pakistan PM) Nawaz Sharif's birthday cake. Modi continuously remembers Pakistan. I have never seen Pakistan flags in my rallies," he said.
In response to a question regarding the upcoming assembly elections later this year, Thackeray predicted that the alliance would prevail in the state polls by fighting harder and more cohesively. "BJP will also outlaw RSS if it claims that Congress will destroy the Ram temple," he highlighted.
When asked about Mamata Banerjee's statement that she will support the INDIA alliance government and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary's claim that the Bengal CM cannot be trusted and might side with the BJP, Kharge responded, "Mamata Banerjee is with the alliance. She has recently confirmed she will join the government. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary will not make that decision. It will be decided by me and the high command, and those who disagree will leave."