Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other prominent BJP leaders, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Assam CM Hemant Biswa Sarma, of engaging in social polarisation and spreading “communal venom” for political purposes. Ramesh, who is also the Congress General Secretary in-charge for Communications, alleged that the BJP’s sole agenda revolves around dividing society to fuel communal tensions.
Polarisation as BJP’s Primary Agenda
Ramesh’s statement came amid ongoing election campaigns in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, where he claimed BJP leaders were resorting to polarisation tactics in a bid to distract from their political failures. He said, “The election campaigning of our non-biological PM, HM, and others in BJP in Jharkhand and Maharashtra clearly shows that they are baffled and scared. They have not been able to recover from the results of the 2024 elections. The only agenda of PM Modi, Amit Shah, Yogi Adityanath, and Assam CM is social polarisation. Massive polarisation. Spread enmity, create communal tension, and spread communal venom.”
Ramesh added that while the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra focused on issues such as farmers, women, youth, and social justice during their campaigns, the BJP had chosen to focus solely on polarisation. In Jharkhand, he noted, the INDIA alliance, including Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was highlighting its roadmap for the next five years, particularly focusing on Adivasis, SCs, STs, OBCs, and other marginalized groups.
Congress Pushes for Census to Ensure Social Justice
Ramesh also criticized the BJP for backtracking on conducting a caste-based census, which he said is essential for addressing social justice issues. “I would like to tell the PM that when you have the census, only then will you be able to go forward. What is the basis of social justice? Census. Why are they backtracking on the census? If you don’t have caste survey, caste census, how would you deliver social justice?” he remarked.
Elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra
As the election process unfolds, Phase 1 of the Jharkhand Assembly elections began on Tuesday. The second phase of Jharkhand’s elections, along with the Maharashtra Assembly elections, will take place on November 20, with results scheduled for November 23.