Mallikarjun Kharge slams PM over ‘blank Constitution’ remark, vows caste census

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday for accusing Rahul Gandhi of displaying a blank Constitution at a recent event. Speaking at the launch of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) poll manifesto for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Kharge dubbed the Prime Minister “jhuto ka sirdar” (the king of lies).
“Modi claimed that this red book is an ‘urban Naxalite’ book and a piece of Marxist literature. Yet, in 2017, he himself presented the same book to then-President Ram Nath Kovind. He even said it had blank pages,” Kharge remarked.
In a sharp retort to the BJP’s “batenge toh katenge” (If divided, we perish) slogan, Kharge questioned its usage, mentioning that Indira and Rajiv Gandhi gave their lives for the unity of the nation, accusing the BJP of divisive politics.
“What does he mean by this? Aap kisko kaatangey? Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed themselves to keep India united. This slogan is straight from Yogi Ji. Modi Ji says, ‘ek hain toh safe hain’. I don’t know which slogan will work, but you belong to the group that killed the very person who gave us independence,” he added.

Listing poll promises in Maharashtra, Kharge pledged to introduce a caste census in Maharashtra if the opposition alliance MVA is elected in the upcoming Assembly polls.
“We will conduct a caste census in Maharashtra and increase the ceiling on reservations beyond the current 50 percent, similar to Tamil Nadu. This census is not aimed at dividing people, but to understand the status of various communities, ensuring they receive more benefits,” he said at a press conference in Mumbai.
The MVA’s manifesto outlines five key promises focusing on sectors like agriculture, rural and urban development, and health. “We have five pillars for Maharashtra’s progress and development. Our guarantees will uplift families, offering relief of around Rs 3.5 lakh per year for each family,” Kharge explained.
Key promises in the manifesto include the Mahalakshmi Yojna, which will provide Rs 3,000 per month to women, an increase from the Rs 1,500 offered under the existing Ladki Behna Yojana. The Mahayuti, in contrast, has pledged to increase it to Rs 2,100 once in power.
The manifesto also includes a health insurance scheme with a coverage of Rs 25 lakh, similar to the one implemented by the former Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan. In addition, free medicine will be provided for citizens.
Farmers will benefit from a loan waiver of up to Rs 3 lakh, with additional assistance of Rs 50,000 for those who pay their loans on time. The MVA has also promised Rs 4,000 per month to unemployed youth who hold a graduate or diploma qualification.
Also, women will be offered free travel on buses. Rs 1,00,000 will be given to girls upon reaching 18 years of age. The MVA also promised to initiate the process of recruiting 250,000 positions in the state government within the first 100 days of its governance.