Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Kharge targets PM Modi, BJP for linking 'red book' of Constitution with urban Naxalism

Mumbai: In a fierce attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday accused them of misleading the country by linking the “red colour” pocket-book Constitution with “urban Naxalism”.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, in his meetings and rallies, often displays the red-colour pocket-book Constitution and stresses on the need to to save it - leading to severe attacks from the duo of Modi-Shah and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Kharge said the red pocket-book is wisely used for reference and it was not the entire Constitution.

“Modi described the 'urban Naxal' book and a piece of Marxist literature and that it is blank…even he gave a similar copy (of the red-coloured pocket-book Constitution) to then President Ram Nath Kovind on 26 July, 2017…a day after he took over as the President,” Kharge said and displayed photographs of the New Delhi-event.

At the release of the manifesto of the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi, which comprises Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT) in Mumbai in the run up to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, Kharge also displayed a red book of the Constitution, saying it was not blank as was being projected by Modi and the BJP leaders. “The red book is an abridged version of the Constitution and used by lawyers and intellectuals for ready reference,” said Kharge.

Over the past few days, Gandhi has come under heavy attack from the BJP and Fadnavis had accused him of trying to forge an alliance with “urban Naxals and anarchists” by holding a “red book” in his hand and displaying it in his public engagements.

Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi laid down lives: Kharge

In response to the "batenge toh katange" narrative of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Kharge questioned its usage and meaning and pointed out that former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi gave their lives for the unity of the nation. “…aap kisko kaatangey…he BJP is engaging in divisive politics,” he said. “You have already divided the communities by adopting Manusmriti. Who will you cut now?…Modi says “ek hai to safe hai”, batenge toh katange”, Yogi Adityanath says “katange to batange”… I don’t know which slogan will work…but you belong to the group that killed the very person who gave us Independence,” he said in what was a reference to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Caste census to be done: Kharge

The Congress President stressed on the need for caste census. “We would do it in Maharashtra…in Telangana, the caste census operation has started,” he said. “The caste census would be conducted not to divide the nation, but to know the exact information about the jobs, economic profile, social status and other things…We will plan what can be done based on the caste census data," he said.

Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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