Kharge accuses BJP of betraying Chhattisgarh, says Congress will fight back
He accused them of undermining constitutional values, dismantling welfare schemes, and failing to address pressing national crises. In a speech marked by sharp political barbs and emotional appeals, the Congress chief positioned the Congress as the defender of India's democratic fabric and the voice of the marginalised.
Kharge alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is propped up by allies like Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, claiming that Modi is 'walking on the legs of Nitish and Naidu' and could collapse without their support anytime. He accused the BJP of working in tandem with these allies to exploit the poor, while asserting that Congress workers are prepared to sacrifice their lives to protect the rights of the people.
He criticised the BJP for failing to implement the reservation Bill passed by the previous Congress government, which aimed to expand quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
'We worked to give reservations to ST, SC, and OBC, but till date there is no trace of the Bill,' Kharge said, calling it a betrayal of social justice. He also took aim at the BJP's economic promises, reminding the crowd that Modi had pledged to provide LPG cylinders at Rs 500 if elected. 'Today, the price is beyond Rs 900,' he said, adding that during Congress rule, even a Rs 1 hike in petrol prices would spark public protests—something he described as a 'trick' designed by the BJP to discredit the UPA government.
He condemned PM Modi's absence from an all-party meeting convened after the Pahalgam terror attack, despite being invited. 'We all attended, but Modi did not,' he said. He also lambasted the Prime Minister for not visiting Manipur, where ethnic violence has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands.
'Modi is visiting 50 countries but is not able to go to Manipur so far, why?' Kharge asked. 'Rapes are happening, people are being killed, houses are burning—but he hasn't gone there even once.' In a pointed reference to recent remarks from the RSS, Kharge read aloud from the BJP's own constitution, highlighting that the word 'secular' is enshrined in it. Without naming anyone, he criticised those who have called for the removal of the term from the Indian Constitution. 'They want to erase the word that protects the poor and underprivileged from all sections of society,' he said, warning that such efforts threaten the very foundation of India's democracy.
Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Congress leader Sachin Pilot echoed Kharge's sentiments, criticising the BJP for dismantling welfare schemes, failing to provide employment, and neglecting farmers' needs. Baghel warned that the future of schoolchildren is at risk, while Pilot emphasised that the Congress would fight the 2028 elections with the same unity and resolve that brought them to power in the past.
The rally marked a renewed push by the Congress to reclaim political ground in Chhattisgarh, positioning itself as the guardian of constitutional values and the voice of the voiceless.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Maharashtra language war: Is it with an eye on Mumbai municipal polls? Experts debate
The language controversy in Maharashtra has escalated, with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers protesting and allegedly assaulting non-Marathi speakers in Mumbai suburbs. This comes ahead of crucial municipal elections, raising questions about whether this is a genuine fight for Marathi pride or a political strategy. The Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, have united on this issue, while the BJP denies accusations of imposing Hindi. The Congress and NCP have taken a cautious approach so far. Critics argue this may be more about control of the BMC's large budget than language issues. The controversy has sparked debates about cultural identity, language policy, and political opportunism in Maharashtra. The issue of Marathi language and identity has resurfaced in Maharashtra politics, with opposition parties uniting against a government order on Hindi language education. Shiv Sena UBT leader stated the party's commitment to promoting Marathi while respecting other languages. The NCP accused the government of failing to address public concerns and provide concrete solutions for Marathi language promotion. BJP faces criticism over comments by MP Nishikant Dubey. The debate has reignited discussions on Marathi pride ahead of BMC elections, with speculation about potential alliances between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. The issue highlights ongoing tensions between regional identity and centralized education policies.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Neither central nor state forces allowed in assembly'
1 2 Kolkata: The advocate general, in his submission to Calcutta High Court, on Tuesday denied BJP 's allegation of discrimination between central and state forces on the Bengal assembly precincts. AG Kishore Datta pleaded that neither central nor state forces were allowed as security to MLAs. "However, there are some policemen deployed in the House, without arms, on the directions of the high court," Datta said. He submitted that all other security personnel were made to wait in shelters. "The prayer made by the leader of opposition (Suvendu Adhikari) to allow central forces within the assembly precincts/House would result in an order of reverse discrimination," the AG said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Adhikari's counsel and BJP chief whip Jaydip Kar had earlier cited a notification issued by the assembly speaker on May 6, 2021, preventing central security forces accompanying BJP MLAs from entering the premises. The AG urged the court of Justice Amrita Sinha to consider whether a direction to the legislature presided over by the speaker, who enjoys certain privileges and immunity under Articles 178, 194, 208, 212 and Entry 13 of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, was preferable and how far the functions of the legislature could be brought under the purview of judicial review. Senior counsel for Adhikari, Billwadal Bhattacharya, held that the point of the matter was whether constitutional provisions could be suspended by issuing an administrative letter from the speaker's office. Justice Sinha adjourned the hearing till July 21.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
The ECI does not have unfettered powers
The Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar, which will be facing Assembly elections in November. Political parties in the Opposition have alleged that the SIR is aimed at disenfranchising thousands of voters in Bihar by disqualifying them on the ground that they are not citizens of India. The ECI has denied this allegation and justified the revision. In the meantime, many petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the ECI's order. While the controversy centres on the motive behind this exercise being conducted just a couple of months before elections, especially when electoral rolls were revised in 2024, this article focuses on the legality of this exercise and the powers of the ECI to undertake it. Reasons for disqualification Article 326 of the Constitution declares that elections to the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies shall be held on the basis of adult suffrage. This means every adult person is entitled to be a voter provided they are not disqualified on certain specified grounds. There are two essential qualifications of being an elector under this Article: the person should be citizen of India and should be aged not less than 18. The Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950, lays down disqualifications for registration as an elector. These are namely unsoundness of mind as declared by a competent court, and disqualification from voting as provided in Section 11A of the 1951 RPA. Conditions for registration as a voter are laid down in Section 19 of the RPA: the person should not be less than 18 years of age and they should be ordinarily resident in a constituency. The term 'ordinarily resident' is explained in Section 20, which says a person shall not be deemed to be ordinarily resident merely because they own or possess a dwelling house in that constituency. Also, a person does not cease to be ordinarily resident if they absent themselves temporarily from their ordinary place of residence. The ECI enjoys enormous powers in respect of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections to Parliament, the State Legislatures, and to the offices of the President and Vice President. Article 324 of the Constitution, which empowers the ECI to undertake these tasks, is characterised by the Supreme Court as a 'reservoir of power'. Since the conduct of free and fair elections is an essential feature of the basic structure of the Constitution, the ECI needs to be vested with all the necessary powers to complete its task. Nevertheless, it is inconceivable that the Constitution should confer on any authority unfettered powers. The Supreme Court has made it clear that the ECI can exercise all powers in its discretion in areas which are not covered by any statute but shall act in accordance with the law wherever it exists. In Mohinder Singh Gill v. Chief Election Commissioner (1978), the Court stated the law as follows: 'Firstly when Parliament or any State Legislature has made valid law relating to or in connection with elections, the Commission shall act in conformity with, not in violation of, such provisions but where such law is silent, Article 324 is a reservoir of power to act for the avowed purpose of pushing forward a free and fair election with expedition.' The qualifying date Let us look at the relevant provisions of the the RPA to get a perspective on the powers of the ECI in regard to revision of the electoral rolls. Section 21 of the 1950 RPA deals with the preparation and revision of electoral rolls. It speaks of four stages of revisions: (1) before elections to the Lok Sabha or Assembly; (2) before each by-election; (3) on the direction of the ECI in any year; and (4) a special revision for a constituency or part of a constituency with the ECI recording reasons for doing so. All revisions except (4) are done with reference to a qualifying date, which, under Section 14, is the first day of January. The only exception is (4): no qualifying date is mentioned because it can be done any time. The ECI order of June 24 mentions the qualifying date as 01/07/2025 and is a direction under Section 21(2)(b) of the RPA. It can be assumed that the revision being done in Bihar is under the same Section. But under this provision, the qualifying date should be 01/01/2025. The revision then should have been done from January 1, 2025. The qualifying date mentioned in the ECI order has no sanction under the law. Similarly, the term 'special intensive revision' is not found in the law. The only case where a special revision can be ordered by the ECI at any time is in relation to a constituency or a part of it and not in relation to an entire State. Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that the SIR in Bihar is not in conformity with the provisions of the RPA. The ECI has claimed in its order that it has power under Section 21 to undertake the exercise. True, but that power is limited to a constituency or part of it under Section 21(3) of the Act. While enjoying enormous powers under Article 324, the ECI is responsible to the rule of law and should be amenable to the norms of natural justice as per the Supreme Court. Electoral registration officers cannot summarily reject applications on the ground that foolproof documents are not being furnished to prove citizenship. Rule 8 of the Registration of Electors Rules clearly state that information shall be furnished 'to the best of ability' of the citizens. The ECI cannot ignore this statutory stipulation.
