Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday for his recent "mujra" remark about opposition leaders, stating it insulted Bihar and its people.
Addressing an election rally in support of Manoj Kumar, Congress leader and Mahagathbandhan candidate for the Sasaram Lok Sabha seat, Kharge said, "Modi ji insulted Bihar by using this word. It means mujra happens here. This is an insult to Bihar and its people. This is not how a PM should talk. He should be talking in a statesman-like manner."
The Congress president's comments followed Modi's assertion that the INDIA bloc, which he accused of being "enslaved" and performing "mujra" for its Muslim vote bank, aimed to rob Dalits and backward classes of reservation.
"Bihar is the land that has given a new direction to the fight for social justice," Modi said at a rally on Saturday. "I wish to declare from this soil that I will foil the plans of the Indian bloc to rob the SCs, STs, and OBCs of their rights and divert those to Muslims. They may remain enslaved and perform'mujra' to please their vote bank."
Kharge also accused Modi of self-aggrandisement and acting like a dictator, warning that a third term for Modi would suppress free speech.
"PM Modi considers himself a 'Tees Maar Khan' (a person who glorifies himself). He is under the wrong impression. It is the people who are the real 'Tees Maar Khan'. He (Modi) is like a dictator. If he returns to power for a third term, people will not be allowed to speak freely," Kharge said.
He further alleged that the BJP was diverting public attention from critical issues by spreading communal hatred.
"Neither the PM nor other BJP leaders will talk about issues such as growing unemployment or price rises. They are spreading communal hatred. The forces that are attacking the Constitution and spreading the politics of hate must be defeated. They are dividing this country on the lines of religion and caste," he added.
Kharge also denied Modi's claim that the Congress would impose an inheritance tax if elected to power.
"This election is very crucial. It's an election to save democracy and the Constitution. We have to fight unitedly. This election is basically 'people vs. Modi' and not 'Rahul vs. Modi'," Kharge asserted.
While expressing respect for Modi as the Prime Minister, Kharge accused him of disrespecting Congress leaders.
"He (Modi) knows only to abuse Sonia Ji, Rahul Ji, and other Congress leaders. He hugs the rich and not the poor. His government neglected the rights and welfare of the underprivileged sections," Kharge alleged.
Voting in Sasaram, along with Nalanda, Patna Sahib, Pataliputra, Arrah, Buxar, Karakat, and Jehanabad Lok Sabha constituencies, is scheduled for June 1.
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