Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari drew comments from Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge. Kharge emphasized the separation of politics and religion, stating that practicing faith should be a personal affair conducted at home, not intertwined with public activities.
Kharge said “Politics and religion should never be brought together. these two should be kept separate. A man of one religion can be with you and a man of another religion can be against you. It is wrong to link religious sentiments with elections. He is going to Kanyakumari and performing drama. How much money in the country is being wasted by employing so many police officers? The show-off you are doing by going there is only going to cause harm to the country. If you have faith in God, then do it at your home.”
The Congress President said “Whatever he (PM Modi) may say, the people of the country have decided that they won’t accept the leadership of PM Modi. Inflation and unemployment have worked in this election. The issue of the constitution and democracy are also there in people’s minds. In Andhra, they (BJP) will get some (seats) but in Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra. Congress has the advantage. In UP also, we will get more seats due to the alliance. I think the alliance’s government will be formed.”
If BJP’s intentions were good, they would’ve filled 30 lakh central govt vacancies, with over half going to the poor, Dalits, and backward. Until untouchability persists and equal rights elude reserved categories, reservations will remain,” he concluded.
Kharge responded critically to Prime Minister Modi’s comment linking global awareness of Mahatma Gandhi to the 1982 movie ‘Gandhi.’
He expressed surprise that someone from Gujarat, Gandhi’s home state, would lack awareness of him, emphasizing the need for promoting Gandhi as the nation’s father and highlighting Gandhi’s Gujarati roots. Kharge also raised concerns about promoting Nathuram Godse, Gandhi’s assassin, over Gandhi himself.