Maharashtra polls were won through ‘fraud’: Kharge

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has attacked the BJP again on the Maharashtra assembly polls. He alleged that the BJP’s victory was achieved through a “fraud” like never before. He has advocated for the use of ballot papers in future elections while questioning the EVMs.

During an address to the AICC session, Kharge criticized the Modi administration, alleging that it is “selling off” government assets to benefit crony capitalists and finishing democracy slowly.

‘Whole world is moving from EVMs to ballot paper’

“The whole world is moving from EVMs to ballot paper but we are using EVMs. This is all fraud. They ask us to prove it. You have devised such techniques that benefit the ruling party and put the opposition at a disadvantage,” Kharge said.

But the youngsters of this country will rise and “say we want ballot paper”, he said in his address at the session being held on the banks of Sabarmati River.

Talking about the Maharashtra Polls, “What happened in Maharashtra. We raised the issue everywhere; Rahul Gandhi raised the issue strongly. What kind of voter list they made…Maharashtra election was a fraud. The same thing happened in Haryana,” he spoke.

He pointed out that the BJP won 90 per cent of the seats which has never happened before.

‘The ruling party has been attacking the Constitution.’

Kharge alleged that in the last 11 years, the BJP has been attacking the Constitution.

“Constitutional institutions and principles are being attacked and we have to fight to protect them,” he said.

He accused the government of conducting the Budget sessions of Parliament according to their whims and fancies.

Referring to a recent session at the Parliament Kharge said, “The Speaker took the Leader of Opposition’s name but did not let him speak. This is shameful in a democracy. If you do not allow LoP to speak, how will you let people to raise their voice.”

He pointed out that a debate on the Manipur issue was scheduled for 4 am, and he had requested that it be rescheduled for the following day. But the government did not agree. “Democracy is being finished slowly, slowly, slowly,” he alleged.

Talking about US tariffs

He said the opposition was not allowed to raise in Parliament the issue of imposition of tariffs by the US. He alleged that monopoly is being established by handing country’s resources to a few crony capitalists.

‘PM starts a fire and RSS adds fuel to it’

Kharge accused the BJP-RSS for raising 500-year-old issues to fan communalism.

“We’re fighting second battle of Independence; difference is earlier foreigners were benefitting from communalization, poverty, inequality, now country’s own government is benefitting,” he spoke.

Kharge drags BJP over casteism, price hikes

He alleged that the BJP have an “anti-Dalit mindset” after its leader sprinkled Ganga water at a Ram temple in Rajasthan’s Alwar to “purify” it following Congress’ Tikaram Jully’s participation in the consecration ceremony there.

Kharge also made a strong pitch for a nationwide caste census. He alleged that PM Modi uses OBC status for political gains, but does not take steps for their welfare.

The Congress president also slammed the government over increasing excise duty on petrol and diesel and hiking the price of LPG cylinder.

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