Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asserted that the caste census is not aimed at dividing people but ensuring that those deserving receive their rightful share. During his address, Kharge also indicated his party’s ambition to secure both the Rajasthan state government and the central government in the 2024 elections.
Kharge strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he has been engaged in falsehoods and divisive tactics, while also accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of replicating the efforts of his party.
The Congress leader accused the BJP of attempting to imitate their policies and announcements. He highlighted that the Congress initiated guarantee schemes in Karnataka, and the BJP has followed suit.
Kharge confidently stated that if the Congress wins the Rajasthan state government once more, it will ascend to power at the center in 2024.
He criticized the BJP for failing to deliver on promises to Rajasthan, emphasizing that they had elected 25 BJP MPs from the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, but these MPs were unable to secure funds and resources for the state.
Regarding the demand for a nationwide caste census, Kharge countered Modi’s accusation that the Congress aimed to divide people, alleging that it is the BJP that has a history of dividing people along religious and caste lines.
Kharge also took a dig at Modi for his infrequent attendance in Parliament and extensive campaigning in poll-bound states, suggesting that the Prime Minister had done little for the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP).
The ERCP, initially proposed by the previous BJP government, is intended to address the drinking water and irrigation requirements of 13 districts in Rajasthan. The Congress president urged the people to voice their concerns through their votes in the upcoming November 25 elections.
Kharge highlighted the schemes and programs introduced by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s government and underscored the Congress’s commitment to supporting the underprivileged, including farm loan waivers and health insurance schemes.
Kharge questioned the lack of support from the central government for essential schemes in Rajasthan and criticized the MPs’ ineffectiveness in securing resources for the state.
He also accused the BJP of toppling elected governments in states where the people’s mandate did not favor them. In Rajasthan, Kharge credited Gehlot with saving the Congress government with popular support.
Kharge made a satirical remark about Modi’s recent visit to Uttarakhand, suggesting that the Prime Minister’s actions were an attempt to display his “greatness.”
Kharge lauded the Congress’s development work for the poor, such as the Indira Gandhi Canal, healthcare facilities like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and large dams. He asserted that the wealth gap between the rich and the poor was expanding, and those profiting from the country’s assets were close associates of the Prime Minister.
On the issue of women’s reservation, Kharge accused Modi of misleading the public and claimed that it was the Congress that had initiated the bill for women’s reservation. He stated that the Congress had willingly supported the recent women’s reservation bill passed by Parliament.
Kharge concluded by advocating for a caste census across the country, emphasizing that it was not meant to harm anyone but to ensure that everyone receives their fair share.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot echoed Kharge’s sentiments about the ERCP and criticized the central government’s lack of support despite promises made by the BJP’s Vasundhara Raje during her tenure as Chief Minister. He urged the central government not to deceive the public and emphasized the importance of the ERCP for eastern Rajasthan.
