On India’s 79th Independence Day, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of resorting to “any extent of immorality” to cling to power.
Speaking after unfurling the national flag at the Congress headquarters at Indira Bhawan on August 15, 2025, Kharge alleged widespread electoral irregularities, particularly in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s voter rolls, where he claimed opposition votes were being systematically deleted, with living voters falsely declared dead.
Kharge highlighted the deletion of 65 lakh votes in Bihar, noting the BJP’s lack of objection as evidence of who benefits from the process. “This is not about winning elections but saving India’s democracy and protecting the Constitution,” he declared, emphasizing the Congress’s fight against what he described as a deliberate assault on democratic principles. He criticized the Election Commission’s opacity, stating, “It refuses to disclose whose votes are being cut or why,” and praised the Supreme Court for ordering the voter list’s publication, which he said exposed the BJP’s complicity.
The Congress chief further accused PM Modi’s government of weaponizing central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Income Tax Department against opposition leaders, claiming their misuse was so blatant that “the Supreme Court had to hold a mirror to them.”
Kharge’s remarks resonate with opposition concerns, with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh echoing on X that “BJP’s tactics threaten the Constitution.” In contrast, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi defended PM Modi, asserting on X, “Congress’s accusations are baseless; PM Modi upholds democratic values.”
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Kharge lamented the erosion of India’s global stature, arguing that PM Modi’s policies have abandoned the non-alignment legacy, leaving India isolated. “Once the voice of developing nations, today we stand alone,” he said, claiming the dreams of independence heroes like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru are fading. Invoking B.R. Ambedkar’s 1949 Constituent Assembly speech on the sanctity of the franchise, Kharge underscored fair elections as democracy’s cornerstone, warning that no voter should be excluded due to prejudice.
Reflecting on Congress’s historical role, Kharge said, “The freedom struggle is the story of our party,” paying tribute to leaders like Gandhi, Nehru, and Subhas Chandra Bose. He credited Congress governments for crafting India’s Constitution, which he called unparalleled, and for establishing a democratic framework based on equality: “One Person, One Vote, One Value.”
The speech sparked polarized reactions. Congress supporters on X hailed Kharge’s critique as a bold defense of democracy, while BJP leaders dismissed it as “desperate rhetoric.” Amit Malviya, BJP IT cell chief, posted, “Kharge’s claims are a distraction from Congress’s failures.” The controversy, amplified by PM Modi’s simultaneous praise of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in his own Independence Day address, has deepened India’s political divide, with the CPI(M)’s MA Baby accusing PM Modi of dishonoring freedom fighters by lauding the RSS, which he called “absent from the independence struggle.”
As India celebrates its independence, Kharge’s allegations against PM Modi’s BJP highlight escalating tensions over electoral integrity and institutional misuse. With the Supreme Court’s intervention offering some transparency, the fight for democratic fairness remains a flashpoint, setting the stage for further confrontations as India navigates its democratic journey.
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