Call ‘400 pairs’ aimed at 2/3 majority to amend the constitution: Kharge
Channapatna: AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge addresses a public rally in support of party candidate DK Suresh for the Lok Sabha elections, in Channapatna, Monday, April 22, 2024. (Photo: PTI)
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “400 pairs” during the election campaign is aimed at securing a two-third majority of the NDA in Lok Sabha, which is needed to amend the Constitution.
Kharge also said he was ready for an open debate to discuss the Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections, while taking Modi to task on his statement that it fully bears the stamp of the Muslim League.
“These elections are important for saving democracy and the constitution. If you vote on these issues, the vote goes to Congress. If you do not vote for Congress, there will be no constitution or democracy in the country,” Kharge said.
Addressing a public meeting here, he said: “Modi is aiming for a two-third majority. He says ‘400 pairs’ because a two-thirds majority is needed to change the constitution. To get that two-thirds majority, Modi says ‘400 pairs’. couple’.”
Kharge wondered why Modi would reportedly not stop RSS and BJP leaders from speaking out about amending the Constitution and taking action against them. “It’s because he too wants it to happen, Modi wants it too.”
The AICC chief targeted Modi for equating the Congress manifesto with that of the Muslim League: “If we say we will provide employment to the youth, is that the Muslim League? Is Nari Nyay… legalizing MSP for farmers – is that so? Is it the Muslim League? He says what comes into his mouth.”
The Prime Minister said in Rajasthan on Sunday that Congress, by conducting a census, will collect assets that people have and give the same to Muslims. “As prime minister, he should speak with reason, not without reason,” Kharge said.
“I am ready for an open debate with him (Modi), wherever he says, to discuss our manifesto. I am listing things in our manifesto and questioning him for calling it the Muslim League and an anti-national manifesto,” he said. he emphasized the guarantees promised in the manifesto.
Kharge accused Modi of unnecessarily targeting the Gandhi family and said that since 1989 till now, no member of the Gandhi family has been a Prime Minister, Minister or Chief Minister. “But he (Modi) still won’t stop attacking the Gandhi family.”
If anyone is trying to divide this country, it is Modi, Kharge alleged, accusing the prime minister of spreading hatred among Hindus and Muslims, and among Dalits and other castes.
The symbol of Congress – ‘the hand’ – is always with you, but Modi says the hand is bad and if you don’t vote for it, ‘will you cut off your hand?’ he noted.
Modi is known for his ‘hit and run’, Kharge said, urging the prime minister to ‘stand firm and discuss issues’.
“We are not against Modi, but against his ideology, the RSS ideology. Why are we targeting Modi, an individual?”
The problem, however, is that BJP and Modi themselves say: Modi’s guarantee, Modi’s promise, Modi has done it. If you say Modi, who should we criticize? They are not taking the name of the BJP, everything is Modi. So we are also targeting Modi’s name,” Kharge said.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
First print: April 22, 2024 | 11:57 PM IST