'Ready To...': Kharge Willing To 'Explain' Congress Manifesto To PM Modi On Muslim League Jibe

mallikarjun kharge seeks time to explain poll manifesto to pm modi on muslim league jibe: ‘ready to…’

New Delhi: In a strong response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent criticisms regarding the Muslim League’s imprint on the party’s manifesto and alleged promise of “redistribution of wealth to infiltrators,” Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has urged the PM to stop his attempts to sow division within society. He asked if the poll manifesto only talks about “redistribution of wealth to only Muslims”. Kharge has also requested an opportunity to explain the contents of the document.

Addressing a gathering in Kerala’s Wayanad on Tuesday, Kharge said, “PM Modi says the Congress Manifesto is a Muslim League manifesto. I request him, if he gives me time, I will take our manifesto and explain it to him. Where are we saying that something is only for Muslims? We are doing things for all. Our manifesto is for the poor, farmers, youth women and everybody. He just wants to divide the society and keep talking about Hindu-Muslim.”

Further, Kharge emphasized that Congress’s promises for the youth and women, such as “Yuva Nyay” and “Naari Shakti,” are inclusive and intended for everyone, not just for Muslims, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, or those below the poverty line. He highlighted that during the UPA era, rights were granted without the public demanding them, citing the example of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee, which was introduced by Sonia Gandhi and the BJP had opposed it.

“They said that by bringing in MGNREGA, Congress was bringing poverty to the country. We made MGNREGA a right, education a right, food security a right. These things can’t be taken away even if PM Modi and (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah wish to do so. These are permanent rights brought by the UPA government,” he added.

During a series of election rallies this month, the Prime Minister remarked that the Congress’ manifesto echoed the pre-independence thoughts of the Muslim League. At a rally in Rajasthan on Sunday, PM Modi sparked controversy by stating that the “Congress planned to seize people’s property and redistribute it to Muslims. He said that ‘they will not even leave your ‘mangalsutra’.”