Addressing his maiden election rally in Haryana, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government and accused them of “serial dishonesty” and betrayal of the people’s trust. Speaking at a rally in Badhra, Charkhi Dadri, Kharge claimed PM Modi had built his political legacy on a foundation of false promises and deception.
“Today marks the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri—leaders who epitomised truth and integrity. But those in power today have abandoned truth for lies,” Kharge began, setting the tone for his sharp criticism. “Modi ji is the leader of those who break trust. He has mastered the art of betraying the people’s faith with empty promises,” he alleged.
Flanked by former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and ex-Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, Kharge revisited some of the BJP’s most controversial promises. He cited Modi’s infamous claim of depositing ₹15 lakh into every citizen’s account, a promise Kharge dismissed as nothing more than a “deliberate lie to dupe the public.”
“In the past 10 years, how many lies has Modi ji told? He promised to bring back black money, to provide two crore jobs annually. But where are these jobs? Where is the ₹15 lakh he promised to each of us?” Kharge asked, pointing out that under Modi’s leadership, not even a fraction of these promises had been fulfilled.
Referring to the BJP’s failure in Haryana, Kharge didn’t spare former Chief Minister Manohar Lal either. “They promised 5 lakh jobs in Haryana. Where are those jobs? Instead, 1.6 lakh posts remain vacant. They changed the chief minister because their engine of lies had failed,” he said, drawing attention to Manohar Lal’s recent replacement as proof of the BJP’s incompetence.
Kharge criticised the BJP and Prime Minister Modi for neglecting the needs of soldiers and farmers, accusing the government of prioritising the RSS agenda over the welfare of citizens.
“Lal Bahadur Shastri gave us the slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,’ but this government knows nothing about either farmers or soldiers. All they care about is the RSS agenda,” Kharge remarked, emphasising the BJP’s disconnect from the hardships faced by the agrarian community and the armed forces.
He further stated, “There are no farmers in the RSS or BJP, so they don’t feel the pain of farmers. Instead, they continue to instil fear in them. The BJP only supports Ambani and Adani, not the farmers.”
As Haryana heads into elections on October 5, Kharge’s blistering speech signals Congress’ aggressive campaign strategy, one that seems poised to capitalise on the BJP’s failure to deliver on its lofty promises. “Modi Ji is running his government with the support of Naidu Ji and Nitish Ji, yet he talks about 2047! Modi Ji only supports his capitalist friends, not the farmers. He waives ₹16 lakh crore for the rich, but keeps farmers burdened under the weight of GST, and doesn’t provide a guarantee for MSP (Minimum Support Price). Due to the BJP’s three black laws, 750 farmers sacrificed their lives,” he added.
Kharge rallied the crowd with the assertion that “the Congress delivers on its promises, unlike the BJP which has become the ‘leader of lies’ under Modi’s rule.”
The political battle for Haryana has begun, and Kharge has set the stage with a direct challenge to PM Modi’s leadership, questioning both his track record and his integrity.
