Kharge Slams Centre, Asks ‘What Kind Of Amrit Kaal Is This?’

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "This fight is to save democracy and the constitution of the country. If you fail to support the Congress in this fight, you will become a slave of Modi..." (Image: PTI)

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, on Wednesday said that INDIA — the alliance of like-minded opposition parties — has got the Bharatiya Janata Party deeply worried and hence, it is trying to mislead the people of India by the raising the “India-Bharat” issue.

He asserted that through its Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress has already spread the message of “Bharat Jodo” from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.

Addressing a public rally in Bhilwara in poll-bound Rajasthan, he said, “They are getting nervous over INDIA (alliance). We are already saying ‘Bharat Jodo’ but you are trying to bring something new. We spread the message of Bharat Jodo through Bharat Jodo Yatra. Whenever we talk about something, they either try to defame it or mislead people.”

Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in Rajasthan later this year. Earlier, on Monday, Kharge had slammed the Centre over inflation and asked “what kind of Amrit Kaal” was this, given the fact that every section of society was facing the brunt of it.

In a tweet written in Hindi, Kharge said, “What kind of ‘Amrit kal’ is this? In which inflation made the public poor. Some reports published recently say that 74 per cent of the people of the country cannot afford a healthy diet. In the last 5 years, the price of a common plate has increased by 65 per cent and despite Rs 200 subsidy, one in four beneficiaries of the Ujjwala scheme took zero or only one LPG cylinder refill last year.”

While slamming the government, the Congress chief said, “Rampant loot, then a minor election exemption will not work. Every section of the country is facing the brunt of inflation implemented by the Modi government, that’s why new rhetoric are being served to the public everyday. Back-breaking inflation is the real issue and we the people of India will continue to question it. By defeating BJP-created inflation, INDIA will win.”

The Congress has been targeting the government over the issue of inflation. Kharge also attached a news report with his tweet. His remarks came amid the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.

I.N.D.I.A. — the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance is a big tent political alliance of 26 political parties in India led by the Indian National Congress. The primary objective of the alliance is to take down the ruling National Democratic Alliance government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Indian general elections.

The name was proposed during a meeting in Bengaluru and was unanimously adopted by the 26 participating parties. While some sources attribute the suggestion of the name to Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Indian National Congress (INC), others mention that it was suggested by Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and chief minister of West Bengal.

1st Meeting: Patna, Bihar: Coordination for unity

The first Opposition parties’ meeting held in Patna, Bihar, was chaired by Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar on 23 June 2023, when the proposal for a new alliance was put on the table. The meet was attended by 16 Opposition parties.

2nd Meeting: Bengaluru, Karnataka: Formal formation

The second Opposition parties’ meeting, held in Bengaluru, Karnataka, was chaired by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, when the proposal for an alliance was accepted and ten more parties were added to the list. The alliance’s name was finalized and given the name Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance. At this meeting, it was announced that the third meeting will be held in the city of Mumbai.