Kharge jibes Bhagwat over his true independence comments, says if he continues to speak in this way it will tough for him to roam freely

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday slammed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat‘s ‘true Independence’ remark, warning him that if he continues to make such statements, it will be difficult for him to move around the country. Kharge while addressing the gathering after the inauguration of party’s new office said, “Many divisive forces, who had no contribution in the freedom struggle, later opposed the Constitution, the tricolour, the Ashoka Chakra and even the laws being made for the progress of the society.”

Taking a pot shot at Bhagwat, Kharge said, “RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that when Ram temple was built, the country got independence. Whereas Narendra Modi feels that when he became the Prime Minister in 2014, the country got freedom.”

“This is a shame,” the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said, adding that the people of RSS-BJP do not remember Independence Day because they did not contribute to the independence of the country. “Congress remembers independence because our people sacrificed their lives, suffered and left their homes for freedom. Therefore, I condemn the statement of Mohan Bhagwat ji,” he said.

And if he (Bhagwat) continues on giving such statements then it will be tough for him to roam freely in the country, he added. Kharge also said that this Congress headquarters will become the centre to fight against those forces which are working against the Constitution and democracy and asserted that he hoped that you are all ready for this. “We should remember all the presidents and heroes from the first session in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Vyomkesh Chandra Banerjee ji on 28 December 1885 till now,” the Congress leader said. He said that the year 2024 is the 75th year of the adoption of the Constitution and is also the centenary year of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, becoming the Congress President.

“As president, Gandhiji connected every section of the country including common man, women, farmers, laborers to Congress. Social problems like untouchability were also included in the political agenda and due to this reason, many poor people are associated with Congress today,” he pointed out. Kharge also highlighted that history is a witness that many freedom movements took place under the leadership of Congress, “but today RSS and its allies are trying to tamper with that very history”. “On this occasion, I would like to remind you of a quote by Baba Saheb Ambedkar in which he said, ‘Those who forget history cannot make history’. I want to tell my Congress colleagues that we have to remember history and keep reminding people of history,” he added.

Kharge also reminded of rich legacy of the Congress and said that Congress stands on the power of ideas. All the major national heroes including Dadabhai Naoroji, Mahatma Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu, Sardar Patel, Nehru, Maulana Azad, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad are our heritage, he said. Kharge emphasised that many historical works have been done during the Congress rule that changed the face of the country and pointed out that under the leadership of Nehru, India became the largest democracy in the world. He also said that the best constitution of the world was made under the leadership of Dr BR Ambedkar.

Lauding Indira Gandhi’s works, he said, “During Indira Gandhi’s tenure, banks were nationalized and the privy purse was abolished. She took forward the work of the green revolution and the white revolution. Indira Gandhi defeated Pakistan and liberated Bangladesh.” “I am proud that I became the President of the Congress Block Committee in the year 1969 during the time of Indira Gandhi ji. Then in 2022, I was elected as the Congress President,” he added.