Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge lambasted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for conducting surveys at mosques across the country, alleging it seeks to divide society along religious lines.
Addressing a rally at the historic Ramlila Maidan, he criticised the BJP for ignoring Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent counsel against searching for temples beneath every mosque.
Kharge accused the BJP of undermining unity and fostering divisiveness.
He questioned, “Will BJP leaders demolish structures such as the Red Fort, Taj Mahal, or Qutub Minar, which were built by Muslims?”
His remarks follow reports of violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, where surveys are being conducted at a mosque to investigate claims of a former temple at the site.
Calling for solidarity among Dalits, minorities, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Kharge stated, “We have to remain united at all costs. Modiji is not leaving any stone unturned to harm this unity and trying to divide society and even castes.”
The Congress chief alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership enables societal divisions and expressed concerns over growing disputes instigated by mosque surveys.
“A (court) judgment was given, which has opened a Pandora's box in the country. Now, surveys are being conducted everywhere, finding temples underneath mosques. Voices are growing in this regard,” he said.
Quoting Bhagwat’s 2023 statement that “our aim was to construct a Ram temple, and we should not find a Shivalay under every masjid,” Kharge criticised BJP leadership for disregarding such advice.
Referring to the 1991 law preserving the character of religious places, Kharge said, “Why is the BJP trying to violate that? Narendra Modi says ‘ek hai to safe hain,’ but they are not letting anyone remain safe. The truth is that you are the ones dividing us.”
The Congress leader accused the BJP of being “double-faced” and alleged that while the RSS presents one narrative publicly, its affiliates act otherwise.
“I feel Mohan Bhagwat says certain things in public but does not say anything to BJP leaders. That is why I feel they are double-faced,” he remarked.
Kharge further alleged that the BJP engages in immoral practices, including manipulating electronic voting machines (EVMs) and destabilising elected governments, as seen in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Manipur.
He criticised the party for failing to address the demands of farmers and alleged suppression of dissent. “Farmers seeking a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops were driven away and crushed after being beaten up,” he charged.
Highlighting the importance of fair elections and caste-based censuses, Kharge noted such surveys have begun in Congress-ruled states like Telangana and Karnataka but not in BJP-ruled regions. He called for vigilance to safeguard democracy and constitutional rights.
Urging the downtrodden to fight for their share in governance, he said, “Whosoever hurts the country, we will fight against them irrespective of their caste or creed. We will protect the Constitution and democracy in the country at all costs.”
Kharge concluded his address by reiterating the need for unity across India to protect democracy. “If democracy is not protected, your ‘hissedari’ (share) will not increase,” he asserted.
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