Kharge Slams BJP for Creating Communal Divide, Distorting Legacy of National Heroes at AICC Convention
Ahmedabad, April 8:
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing them of diverting public attention from the core issues of the country by promoting communal division and rewriting the legacies of national icons.
Speaking at the 84th AICC National Convention and CWC meeting held in Ahmedabad, Kharge said, “Today, attention is being diverted from the basic issues of the country by fueling communal division. At the same time, oligarchic monopolies are taking control of governance by capturing the country’s resources.”
In a veiled reference to the BJP, the Congress President alleged that a deliberate campaign was underway to distort the relationship between former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. “For years, a well-planned conspiracy has been carried out against national heroes and the Congress party, which has a 140-year-long legacy of service and sacrifice,” Kharge said.
He emphasized that Nehru and Patel were not rivals, but shared a deep mutual respect. Citing historical examples, Kharge said, “They were two sides of the same coin. Numerous documents and speeches are proof of their close ties.”
Quoting a speech delivered by Patel at Gujarat Vidyapeeth in 1937, Kharge said, “Patel had publicly expressed his admiration for Nehru and welcomed his leadership. On October 14, 1949, he acknowledged Nehru’s tireless efforts for the nation during a challenging period.”
Kharge further stated that Congress Working Committee (CWC) meetings were often held at Patel’s residence for his convenience and that Nehru would personally visit him for consultations, underlining the cordial relationship between the two.
Taking aim at the RSS, Kharge said, “Sardar Patel’s ideology was completely opposed to that of the RSS. He even banned the organization. Yet, it is ironic that the same RSS now tries to claim his legacy.”
He added that Patel and Mahatma Gandhi played crucial roles in facilitating Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s inclusion in the Constituent Assembly, underlining the Congress’s role in shaping India’s Constitution. “Dr. Ambedkar himself acknowledged that the Constitution could not have been made without the cooperation of the Congress Party,” Kharge said.
The Congress leader also condemned the BJP-led central government for allegedly “insulting” Mahatma Gandhi and Ambedkar by relocating their statues within the Parliament premises. “Placing their statues in a corner of the Parliament is an insult to their legacy,” he said.
Kharge also accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of mocking Ambedkar during a recent Rajya Sabha session. “The Home Minister belittled Ambedkar’s legacy by saying that repeating Ambedkar’s name won’t lead anyone to heaven. Such remarks are shameful,” he added.
Marking the significance of Gujarat in the Congress party’s journey, Kharge said, “Gujarat is the land that gave India Dadabhai Naoroji, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It has always been a source of strength for the Congress.”
He reiterated the party’s plans to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel with grandeur across the nation. “Patel’s role in shaping the Indian Constitution and unifying the nation is unparalleled. He remains the soul of the Congress,” he said.
Criticizing the government’s actions at institutions associated with Gandhian philosophy, Kharge said, “BJP and RSS are taking over institutions linked to Gandhiji and handing them over to people who oppose his ideology. What happened at Gujarat Vidyapeeth and Sarva Seva Sangh in Varanasi is evidence.”
Concluding his speech, Kharge asserted that while others may try to replicate Gandhiji’s appearance, only the Congress party carries forward his true ideological legacy. “They can steal Gandhiji’s glasses and stick, but they cannot follow his ideals,” he remarked.
The AICC convention in Ahmedabad served as both a tribute to the Congress’s historical roots in Gujarat and a strategic message ahead of the upcoming elections.
