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'Being Misinformed': Kharge Writes To PM Modi Over Congress' Manifesto, Says Party Always Works For Poor

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote a two-page letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, seeking time from him to explain the grand old party’s ‘Nyay Patra’ (manifesto) in person. In his letter, Kharge said the Congress’ manifesto is aimed at providing ‘nyay’ (justice) to the youth, women, farmers, labourers and the marginalised people of all castes and communities. He told the Prime Minister that he is “being misinformed” by his advisors over things “that are not even written” in the grand old party’s manifesto. “I would be more than happy to meet you in person to explain our ‘Nyay Patra’ so that, as prime minister of the country, you don’t make any statements that are false,” he said. Kharge wrote, “It has become your habit to seize on a few words taken out of context and create a communal divide.” The Congress chief also said he is neither shocked nor surprised by the language used by the PM Modi in his recent speeches. “It was expected that you and other leaders from your party would start speaking in this manner after you saw the dismal performance of the BJP in the first phase of the elections,” Kharge wrote in his letter. Further sharpening his attack at the Narendra Modi-led government, Kharge said that the Congress has always been focused on the rights of the deprived and the poor, adding that “we are aware that you and your government do not have any concern for the poor and dispossessed.”

Kharge (L) said that he would be more than happy to explain the Nyay Patra to PM Modi

Kharge Attacks Centre, Says ‘Purposely Equating Talks With…’ Taking a jibe at the Prime Minister, Kharge said, “Your ‘suit-boot ki sarkar’ works for the corporates whose taxes you reduced while the salaried class pays higher taxes.” However, he said that the poor pay GST even on food and salt and the rich corporate claim GST refunds. “That is why, when we talk of inequality between the rich and the poor, you are purposely equating it with Hindu and Muslim,” Kharge claimed. The Congress national president said that his party’s manifesto is for the people of India, irrespective of them being a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jain or Buddhist. “I think you have still not forgotten your pre-Independence allies the Muslim League and colonial masters,” he added. Kharge claimed the Congress has always worked towards empowering the poor while “you have ruled to snatch the earnings and wealth of the poor”. “You and your government have repeatedly turned away from the atrocities that the poor and backward women are facing … Today, you talk about their ‘mangalsutra’,” Kharge said while taking a swipe at the PM. He suggested PM Modi to read about “Nari Nyay”, saying that the Congress will implement it when it comes to power at the Centre. Kharge told the Prime Minister to not “get carried away by your own people who are clapping at your speeches”. “They are not allowing you to hear the crores of right-thinking citizens who are disappointed by your speeches,” the Congress chief added.