Congress in talks with every other party for 2024 elections, says Mallikarjun Kharge
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New Delhi: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party is in talks with every other party to create an opposition coalition that will unseat the BJP in the 2024 elections.
He claimed that all the opposition parties together will get the majority and BJP will not. "With every party now and then, we are calling, we are talking, we are sharing our views. The BJP will not get a majority. All other parties together, we will get the majority... let 100 Modis or Shah come," reported NDTV.
He was speaking at an election rally in Nagaland. He said: "In 2024, the alliance government will come to the centre, and Congress will lead. We are talking with other parties because otherwise the democracy and constitution will go."
At Nagaland's Chumukedima, he alleged that the BJP and its allies have been looting the state. "For the last 20 years, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the BJP looted Nagaland. It's high time that the people get justice and a government that works for the people." He also alleged that the BJP's politics is aimed at destroying the indigenous and unique culture of the Nagas. "The people of Nagaland must stand against this attack on the culture of Nagaland and the politics of polarisation and hatred."
He also promised that solving the decades-old Naga issue is one of the top-most commitments in the Congress manifesto. "The Narendra Modi government does not have the political will to put into effect the agreed solutions to the Naga political issue and has cheated the people of Nagaland and the country as well," he told the public. Kharge further alleged that the state government is indulging in delaying tactics on the pretext that more talks are needed.
He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks unlike a democratic man and that he should remember that he is not an autocrat or dictator. "Modi has several times said, 'I am the only man who can face the country. No other people can touch me.' No democratic man says this. You are in a democracy, you should remember you are not an autocrat. You are not a dictator. You are elected by people and people will teach you a lesson."
He further said that Congress workers have given their lives to get freedom and asked if any BJP leader has been hanged or fought for freedom. He also alleged that BJP workers think they got independence only in 2014 and they don't remember 1947.
"Our people have given their lives to get freedom. Congress. Not you, BJP people. Tell me has any BJP leader been hanged for freedom, or fought for freedom? Has gone to jail? Instead, a man who brought freedom, Mahatma Gandhi, they killed him. And such people are talking about patriotism?" Kharge added that Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi gave their life for the country's unity.
The Congress President's remarks come at a time when northeast states are out to vote. Meghalaya and Nagaland will vote on Monday. Tripura voted last week. Congress is up against BJP and its allies. In Tripura, Congress also teamed up against its rival the Left.
