NEW DELHI: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge responded on Wednesday to Union home minister Amit Shah‘s remarks about former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, stating that “he is a child in front of Indira Gandhi”.
Amit Shah, who addressed several rallies in Maharashtra, affirmed that Article 370, which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir, would not be reinstated, regardless of circumstances.
“Even if Indira Gandhi were to return from heaven, Article 370 won’t be restored,” Amit Shah said.
Meanwhile, Kharge condemned the BJP-led Mahayuti as a “government of thieves” and urged voters to defeat it in the upcoming elections on 20 November. Campaigning in Latur, Kharge criticised the BJP and its ideological partner, the RSS, for their lack of involvement in India’s freedom struggle and national unity. He denounced divisive slogans like “Batenge to Katenge” and “Ek Hai to Safe Hai,” calling them dangerous.
Kharge also highlighted the severe issues facing Maharashtra, including the alarming suicide rate among farmers. He stated, “Seven farmers die daily in Maharashtra, yet the government remains silent.”
He reiterated Congress’s commitment to a caste census for equitable distribution of resources, slammed Modi’s false promises, and emphasised the importance of Dr. Ambedkar’s Constitution in safeguarding India’s unity and equality.
Amit Shah further contended that Congress’s proposed Muslim reservations would reduce quotas for Dalits, tribals and OBCs.
He mentioned a recent meeting between Muslim scholars and the Congress president regarding reservation demands, saying, “Rahul Baba, not only you, but even if your fourth generation were to come, you cannot cut the quota for SCs/STs/OBCs to give it to Muslims”.
The BJP leader positioned the ruling Mahayuti alliance as defenders of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Veer Savarkar’s principles, whilst labelling the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi as an “Aurangzeb Fan Club”. At a Jalgaon rally, he cautioned that an MVA victory would transform Maharashtra into a financial resource for Congress headquarters in Delhi.
During his campaign, Shah highlighted the BJP’s achievements in developing projects like the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the Kashi Vishwanath corridor. He emphasised, “Prime Minister Modi built the Ram temple, and now Somnath is also being made of gold”, whilst seeking support for BJP.
The political rivalry between the Mahayuti alliance and MVA coalition has heightened as Maharashtra approaches its assembly polls on November 20, with results scheduled for November 23.