New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday hit out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that in a democracy if one person is made a god, it will not be democracy but will become autocracy, reported news agency ANI. He urged all segments of society, particularly the SC/ST and other marginalised groups, to work together to uphold democracy and the Constitution.
In addition, the veteran leader urged people to vote for the Congress in the upcoming elections in Karnataka, highlighting that he, too, is a son of the soil, and asked people to support him, his party, and its leaders. He criticised Modi for projecting his Gujarati identity while seeking votes in the Gujarat polls.
"For every thing Modi, in a democracy if you make one person a god, it is not democracy it is autocracy, it will lead to dictatorship. Think about it. You have to know your rights and you should fight to get it," Kharge said.
He made his latest remark at the "Aikyata Samavesh," a large gathering of SC/ST communities held by the Karnataka Congress in preparation for the Assembly elections, which are likely to take place in April or May.
Kharge further said, "if you have strength, if you are united, you will have value. If you are not united, the divide and rule principle which the British used and now Modi is using, will be applied on you by everyone else in the society. Keep this in mind." The goal should be to protect the democracy in the country, and to safeguard the Constitution, he said, if the Constitution and democracy is there, one can ask for reservation, promotions, and can become MLA or a Minister.
The head of the AICC suggested that thousands of people would join Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his nationwide "Bharat Jodo Yatra" because it focuses on issues like unemployment and price increases.
"There are more than 30 lakh job vacancies in the government sector, Modi is not filling them, why? We have to question and demand for it to be filled. Out of 30 lakh, 15 lakh is for SC/ST and OBCs, these are assured jobs," he said.
"They (ruling BJP administration) are not recruiting to fill up these vacancies, because, if poor get jobs and get money into their hand, their (BJP) game will be over. So they are recruiting people on daily wages and contract basis for jobs," he added.
Several opposition party leaders attended the event, including Siddaramaiah, the chief of the state Congress, D K Shivakumar, and AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala.
(With PTI Inputs)