In a fiery response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s allegations, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge strongly defended his party, rejecting the Prime Minister’s claims that Congress is controlled by “urban Naxals.” Kharge accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of harboring terrorists and being involved in lynchings, highlighting the ongoing political tensions in the country.
Kharge criticized Modi’s repeated use of the term “urban Naxal” to label Congress, describing it as a habitual tactic to divert attention from his party’s shortcomings. He stated, “Modi always calls Congress an urban Naxal party. It’s his habit. But look at his own party; the BJP is a party of terrorists, involved in lynchings. Modi has no right to make such accusations.”
Prime Minister Modi made his remarks about Congress being an “urban Naxal party” most recently on October 5 during a rally in Washim, Maharashtra, as part of the campaign ahead of the assembly elections. He urged the public to unite against Congress, which he accused of having a dangerous agenda aimed at divisiveness. Modi claimed, “Congress is standing with people who do not wish well for India. Their agenda is to keep Dalits as Dalits and the poor as poor. Beware of Congress. Urban Naxals are running the Congress, and they want to divide the country. But we must stay united to stop them.”
Modi reiterated his stance on October 9, following the BJP’s success in the Haryana Assembly elections, asserting that the results reflected the public’s rejection of Congress’s divisive tactics. After launching various development projects in Maharashtra, he emphasized, “The election results signal that the people have rejected the divisive tactics of Congress and the urban Naxals, showing their unwillingness to fall victim to what I describe as ‘hateful conspiracies.’”
The exchange between Kharge and Modi underscores the escalating tensions as political parties gear up for the upcoming assembly elections, with both sides using strong rhetoric to galvanize their support bases. As accusations and counter-accusations fly, the political landscape in India continues to evolve amid a charged atmosphere leading up to the elections.