Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inciting people and dividing society through his election speeches. Kharge was addressing a press conference of the INDIA bloc, where Shiv Sena (UBT) president, Uddhav Thackeray NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and other leaders were present.

Kharge said no prime minister before Modi has ever indulged in inciting people like he has been doing. He said the prime minister speaks about democracy repeatedly but does not adhere to the tenets of democracy. Responding to PM Modi’s statement that the Congress will bulldoze the Ram mandir in Ayodhya and also restore Article 370 if the INDIA bloc is voted to power Kharge said, they have never used a bulldozer on anyone. The Congress president said PM Modi has the habit of lying and inciting people about things which Congress will never do or the things that are impossible to be implemented.

Kharge further added that he is not answerable to Modi and the Congress will implement what they have promised in their election manifesto. He accused PM Modi of creating divisions wherever he went he tries to create division, speaks of dividing society. Kharge further added that PM Modi had described the Congress manifesto as Muslim League manifesto, but now he is calling it as a Maoist manifesto.

The Congress President assured that reservation has been enshrined in the Constitution which will continue and nobody can touch it. Speaking at the press conference Thackeray said, Achche din are coming from June 4 (when Lok Sabha election results will be declared) when INDIA bloc-led government will come to power at the centre. Thackeray pointed out PM Modi calls Shiv Sena (UBT) as the nakli (fake) Shiv Sena, and there is a possibility that tomorrow he may call RSS as nakli Sangh.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday claimed that the Congress and the Samajwadi Party will run bulldozers and demolish the Ram Temple if voted to power. Taking a dig at these aforesaid parties, the Prime Minister suggested them to take lessons from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the appropriate utilization of bulldozers.

Addressing an election rally at Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki, PM Narendra Modi claimed that a senior Samajwadi Party leader had said on the day of Ram Navami that Ram Temple is useless. He further said that the Congress is also planning to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision on Ram Temple. He said that if Congress-Samajwadi Party comes to power, they will send Ram Lalla back to the tent. 

Recently, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav triggered controversy by terming the Ram Temple as useless due to perceived inadequate construction. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has criticized the remarks, and pointed out this to be the reality of the INDIA bloc.  

Speaking in the Hindi heartland, the Prime Minister mentioned that SP-Congress have surrendered to the appeasement, and when he is speaking truth, the parties are blaming him for creating Hindu-Muslim divide. He further referred to SP Leader Akhilesh Yadav as a socialist prince who has taken shelter under a new aunt from Bengal, apparently referring to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banejee. 

The Prime Minister stated the vote bank the opposition people run after has also started understanding the truth now. He expressed that mothers and sisters of the country are happy with the laws on triple talaq are continuously blessing his government. 

During the election rally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi exuded confidence that the BJP will retain their power for the third term in a row. PM Modi said that the Modi government would score a hat-trick. He also promised to work for the welfare of the poor, youth, women, and farmers during his third term, and sought blessings of the people.

Ahead of the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election, Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that the Congress will provide 10 Kg free ration to the poor families if elected to power. He added that 10 Kg ration along with Rs 8500 per month will promote education and self-employment among millions in the country.

Taking to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Rahul Gandhi said that Congress has taken another big decision for the poor families of the country. He promised that his party will give 10 Kg free ration, instead of 5Kg. He also recalled that during the UPA government, the Congress has given legal status to the right to food through the Food Security Act. and that 10 Kg free ration will be the next step in the direction.

Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of running a government of Adani, and making 20-25 billionaires, the senior Congress leader said that Congress will make crores of millionaires and run the government of Indians. Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also promised to provide 10Kg free ration if voted to power.

Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday slammed BJP’s 5Kg ration policy at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Raebareli, where Rahul Gandhi is contesting. She said that 5Kg ration will not make one self-reliant, but employment will. She explained the electorates need to understand that political parties whose ideologies make people dependent is not right. She concluded that voters will choose employment over 5Kg ration that BJP promises.

Along with 10Kg free ration, Congress has also promised to start recuitment process for 30 lakh government post by August 15. The Party also vowed to provide the youth their first job of Rs 1 lakh per year. It also guranteed better working conditions, pensions and social security for the work force of the gig economy.

Furthermore, the Congress also promised start-up funds for young entrepreneurs at district levels from the national funds of Rs 5000 crore. The party also pledged to give National minimum wage of Rs400 per day, including all MGNREGS workers, and stop contractualisation of employment in core government functions.