Addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur on Saturday, Prime Minister Modi had said that the Congress manifesto 'reflects the Muslim League'.
The Prime Minister reiterated that claim at a rally in Bastar, Chhattisgarh this morning. After this, BJP President JP Nadda said, “Congress has been rejected again and again, but they are insisting on appeasement politics. I saw the manifesto and was surprised. Is this their manifesto or the Muslim League's?” …”
Hours later, Congress filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Narendra Modi and BJP's candidate from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Union Minister Rajiv Chandrashekhar, for giving 'false information' in the election affidavit.
On the allegation of 'Muslim League imprint', Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge gave a sharp reaction and targeted Prime Minister Narendra and Home Minister Amit Shah for spreading lies.
Attacking the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Kharge said, “Everyone knows how Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, in alliance with the Muslim League in the 1940s, ruled Bengal, Sindh and the NWFP (North West Frontier Province). Formed their own governments in the province).
Photo Credit: NDTV Reporter
Kharge posted on , which was presided over by Maulana Azad. There is a smell of RSS in Modi ji's speeches. BJP's electoral graph is falling day by day. That's why RSS has started remembering its best friend Muslim League.”
Modi-Shah's political and ideological ancestors supported the British and Muslim League against the Indians in the Freedom Struggle.
Even today, they are invoking the Muslim League against the 'Congress Nyay Patra' guided and shaped according to the aspirations, needs and…
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 8, 2024
Even before this, after the PM's initial taunt, Congress had said that he 'does not know his history'.
The Congress pointed out that Jan Sangh founder and BJP ideologue Shyama Prasad Mukherjee himself was part of the coalition government in Bengal with the Muslim League in the early 1940s.
The part of the Congress manifesto released on Friday that has given rise to the controversy is the 'guarantee to increase reservation for Dalits and marginalized groups beyond the Supreme Court limit of 50 per cent.'
BJP President JP Nadda said, “Muslim League had talked about reservation on the basis of religion in 1929. Congress is also repeating the same thing. The way reservation is being talked about on the basis of religion and more than 50 percent reservation. Congress should make it clear who will benefit from what is being promised.”
Congress manifesto promises employment generation and infrastructure development
The Congress manifesto also focuses on employment generation and infrastructure development. There are also many other promises including guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) to the protesting farmers and direct cash transfer to women heads of families below the poverty line.