January 29, 2024 : In a recent rally held in Bhubaneswar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed concerns over the potential establishment of dictatorship in India if Prime Minister Narendra Modi is re-elected in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Kharge emphasized that this election could be the last chance for the people to safeguard democracy in the country.
“This will be the last opportunity for the people to save democracy in India. If Narendra Modi wins another election, there will be a dictatorship in the country. The BJP will rule India like Putin in Russia.” – Mallikarjun Kharge
Kharge urged the public to distance themselves from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological counterpart, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), referring to them as “like poison.” He emphasized that the responsibility of preserving the Constitution and democracy lies with the people.
Kharge accused the present government under PM Modi of operating by intimidating states and opposition leaders. He claimed that notices are being served to opposition leaders, and government agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax are being used as tools against political opponents.
The Congress president alleged that opposition leaders are being pressured to abandon their parties and alliances if they oppose the ideologies of the BJP and the RSS. He specifically mentioned former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who faced frequent threats for opposing the BJP and the RSS.
Addressing the recent return of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) to the NDA, Kharge dismissed concerns about its impact on the polls. He stated, “Does the country weaken when one person exits? No. Likewise, the alliance would not be weakened by the departure of one or two individuals. We will emerge even stronger.”
Describing PM Modi as a “habitual liar,” Kharge accused him of misleading the public with promises such as creating 2 crore jobs annually and depositing ₹15 lakh in every Indian’s bank account.
Responding to Modi’s critique of Congress’s achievements, Kharge highlighted the party’s role in providing rights to women, Dalits, tribals, and the downtrodden by implementing the Constitution properly.
Kharge claimed that the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and opposition BJP in Odisha have formed a “love marriage” and are allegedly exploiting the state and oppressing its poor residents. He accused them of allowing natural resources to be looted.
As India gears up for the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Mallikarjun Kharge’s warnings about the potential shift towards dictatorship under a re-elected Prime Minister Modi add a significant dimension to the political discourse. The electorate now faces a pivotal decision that could shape the future of the world’s largest democracy.
