On Wednesday, Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on the Modi government, saying that China has intruded into Ladakh, but the government is not daring to stop it or speak against it. Kharge sarcastically asked, “What benefit did the country get from ’56 inch chest’?” There was an uproar in the House on this statement and BJP members strongly protested.
Political conflict over Vande Mataram
Kharge also targeted the government on the issue of Vande Mataram and said that he has been singing this song for the last 60 years and has also been singing it in the House as an MLA and MP for 30-35 years. He alleged that people who did not sing Vande Mataram earlier were now using it as a political weapon. He said that it was the Congress that had started the tradition of singing Vande Mataram in its conventions, and when freedom fighters were going to jail, “those who are distributing patriotism certificates today were working for the British.” He alleged that the government was weakening the spirit of democracy and the Constitution.
‘Modi and Shah are distorting history’
Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of distorting history to insult the Congress. He said that the decision related to Vande Mataram was a collective decision of Congress leaders including Nehru, Gandhi, Maulana Azad and Subhash Chandra Bose. Kharge said that PM Modi and BJP do not leave any opportunity to insult Nehru and other freedom fighters. He said, “No matter how much you try to bring down Nehru’s name, he was and will remain at the highest level; you are at the lowest and will remain there.”
Big attack on China and economy
On the issue of China, Kharge said that the government is sitting quietly while China is continuously becoming aggressive on the border. He said, “Leave aside the 56-inch chest… there is no courage to speak against China. The dollar has fallen so much, the condition of the rupee is like that of a man falling from the Himalayas.” Kharge said that India’s influence in neighboring countries is decreasing and China’s grip is getting stronger. He also claimed that the Prime Minister himself had said on June 19, 2020, that “no one has come inside, nor has anyone intruded” – while the truth is quite the opposite.
