Jharkhand Elections: PM Modi eliminated ‘freedom of speech’, jails those who point out his mistakes: Kharge

PTI, Nov 16, 2024, 5:38 PM IST

Ranchi: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of “eliminating freedom of speech” and imprisoning those who speak out against his mistakes.

Kharge also labelled former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, who joined the BJP from JMM, a “traitor,” claiming there were many such people who betrayed those who nurtured them.

“PM Modi has eliminated ‘freedom of speech’ from the country; he jails those who point out his mistakes. You are snatching people’s rights. Is this democracy that you jail a tribal CM? They want to crush us, but we will keep raising our heads,” Kharge said while addressing a rally in Ranchi’s Ormanjhi.

He alleged that Modi maintains silence when Dalits, tribals and minorities are oppressed in the country.

Kharge also criticised the arrogance of BJP leaders, saying, “Rahul and I hold cabinet ranks, but we don’t enjoy the privileges of leaders like Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan or Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.” Kharge said, “There are many traitors like Champai Soren who proved unfaithful to those who nurtured them” and warned the people of Jharkhand being cautious alleging that “Modiji will betray you, hand over your ‘Jal, Jungle, Jameen’ to industrialists.” He also alleged that the “BJP-RSS who break the nation and divide the poor proclaim ‘batenge toh katenge’.” Kharge also accused the BJP of buying governments in states where they failed to win elections, citing Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Goa as examples.

Kharge raised concerns about wealth inequality in the country, claiming that 62 per cent of the wealth is controlled by just 5 per cent of the rich, while 50 per cent of the population holds only 3 per cent of the assets.

He also alleged that Modi was sitting on Jharkhand’s Rs 1.36 lakh crore funds and had denied financial support for the PM Awas Yojana, forcing the state to implement its own housing scheme, the Abua Awas Yojna.