Kalaburagi (Karnataka) [India], October 12 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge sharply rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that Congress is controlled by "Urban Naxals" and accused the BJP of being a party of terrorists responsible for lynchings and heinous crimes against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and tribals.
Kharge said, "Progressive people are being called Urban Naxals... this is his (PM Modi's) habit. His party (BJP) itself is a terrorist party. They engage in lynching, assault people, urinate in the mouths of Scheduled Castes members, and rape tribal people. They also support those who commit these acts, and then they blame others."
"Wherever his government is in power, atrocities are committed against people from Scheduled Castes, especially tribals. Then he talks about these atrocities... It is his government, he can control it", he added.
Kharge's statement comes amidst a heated political climate, with the Congress party pushing back against allegations made by the BJP. In recent times, Kharge has been vocal about his concerns regarding the BJP's governance, accusing them of spreading hatred and divisiveness.
On September 28, while addressing a rally in Jammu, PM Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress.
The Prime Minister said that the opposition party is completely under the control of "Urban Naxals" who use foreign infiltrators as "vote banks" and mock their own citizens. "Congress has never truly honoured the sacrifices of our brave soldiers. Today, the party is hijacked by Urban Naxal sympathisers, who welcome foreign infiltrators as 'vote banks' while mocking the sufferings of our own citizens," said PM Modi.
He further claimed that Congress, along with the National Conference and PDP, has always done injustice to Jammu and is willing to do anything for appeasement.
"Today, Congress-NC and PDP are enraged by the changes taking place in Jammu and Kashmir. They don't like your development. These people say that if their government is formed, they will bring back the old system. They will reintroduce the same discriminatory regime, whose biggest victim has been Jammu. Congress, National Conference, and PDP have always wronged Jammu and are willing to do anything for appeasement. You should listen to their speeches to see how they attack Dogra heritage and make allegations to defame Maharaja Hari Singh," the Prime Minister stated.
Meanwhile, Kharge also hit out at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat over his remarks on the condition of minorities in Bangladesh with party president Mallikarjun Kharge accused him of supporting a party "which wants disunity in the country."
Kharge said, "You (Bhagwat) are the one who supports the party (BJP) which wants disunity in the country. It starts with changing the Constitution, ending reservation, and then speaking different things about Muslims."