New Delhi (Agency): Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, accusing them of ignoring the crisis in Manipur and focusing on campaigning in other states. Speaking to Mahila Congress members and workers in New Delhi, he expressed his determination to defeat the BJP in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Kharge said, “If Rahul Gandhi can go to Manipur, why can’t the prime minister visit? What protection has the BJP provided to the women there? They are fleeing homes, getting raped, and killed. And the BJP is busy campaigning in other states.” These strong words were part of his overall condemnation of the BJP’s handling of the situation in Manipur.
He further emphasized that the women leaders of the Congress party would play a significant role in working hard to oust the BJP government next year. “Our party’s women cadre will discuss ideas and strategies for the upcoming general elections 2024 and I am certain they will oust the BJP government next year,” Kharge stated.
Kharge also expressed frustration with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response to the situation in Manipur. He alleged that Modi remained silent on the atrocities happening in the region and only addressed the Parliament on the issue after the opposition moved a no-confidence motion. “So many lives were lost, so many houses burnt and thousands of people displaced in Manipur, yet the prime minister spoke nothing about it,” he said.
The Congress leader further clarified that the fight against the BJP was not a personal one but a struggle for the betterment of the country. He responded to Prime Minister Modi’s challenge regarding the Congress’s achievements over the last 70 years, reminding him that leaders like Morarji Desai and Atal Bihari Vajpayee had also contributed to keeping democracy alive.
Kharge urged the women leaders of the party to take a pledge to work diligently and defeat the BJP in the forthcoming general elections. He made it clear that the party’s focus was on addressing the pressing issues faced by the country and holding the government accountable.
The speech by Kharge marks a strong stance by the Congress party in highlighting what they see as the BJP’s failure to address critical issues in Manipur and other parts of the country. With the upcoming 2024 elections in sight, both parties are intensifying their efforts, framing their narratives, and setting the stage for a highly contested political battle.
Kharge’s remarks underscore the Congress’s commitment to challenging the BJP’s governance and emphasizing the importance of women’s participation in shaping the political landscape. It also brings to the forefront the ongoing crisis in Manipur, demanding immediate attention and action from the central government.