National Herald case aimed at intimidating Congress: Mallika
National Herald case aimed at intimidating Congress: Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday charged the Narendra Modi government at the Centre with trying to "intimidate" his party by framing top leaders in the National Herald case
In this image via AICC on April 20, 2025, Congress President
Mallikarjun Kharge addresses a public meeting, in Buxar, Bihar. (AICC via PTI
Photo)
BUXAR (BIHAR) — Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday charged the
Narendra Modi government at the Centre with trying to "intimidate"
his party by framing top leaders such as Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the
National Herald case.
Slamming the central government on the Waqf issue, Kharge
alleged that the recent amendments in the Act were part of the "BJP-RSS
conspiracy" to divide the people.
Addressing the party's 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan'
rally at Dalsagar Stadium in Buxar, Kharge said, "The Narendra Modi
government at the Centre is trying to intimidate the Congress by framing our
leaders such as Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald
case."
"We are not afraid of anyone, and nor shall we bow down
before anyone. Officials of central probe agencies conducted searches in the
case but did not find anything. Our leaders are not scared. Our leaders like
Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi have sacrificed their lives for the
country," he asserted.
"The purpose of launching these newspapers was to create
awareness among the masses during the freedom struggle to consolidate people's
voice against the British rule. On the other hand, RSS leaders were agents of
the British and were working for them. But now, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi
are being targeted because they are the backbone of the party. Central agencies
like CBI, ED and I-T are being used to target opposition leaders," Kharge
alleged.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet
against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others on charges of
money laundering in the National Herald case.
Kharge alleged that the BJP and RSS were against the poor,
women and weaker sections of the society.
"They (RSS-BJP) can't think for the betterment of the
society. They believe in dividing the society based on caste and religion. The
Waqf (Amendment) Bill passed by Parliament is a conspiracy of the BJP and the
RSS to create a divide among communities," he alleged.
Training his guns on the BJP-led regime at the Centre, he
said, "Modi ji and other BJP leaders only talk about Hindu-Muslim and try
to divert people's attention from core issues."
"Mahatma Gandhi's ideals and Dr BR Ambedkar's
principles are the foundation of our ideology, and it is from these that we
draw our strength. With this very strength, we will fight against injustice and
defeat the ideology of hatred," he asserted.
Further, the Congress president termed the alliance between
the ruling JD(U) and the BJP in Bihar as "opportunistic" and alleged
that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar switches sides for 'kursi' (chair) only.
"The alliance between Nitish Kumar and the BJP is
opportunistic. It is not good for the people of the state. He has switched
sides only for 'kursi' (CM's post).
"The JD(U) chief has joined hands with the ideology
that killed Mahatma Gandhi. The BJP-JD(U) alliance has been formed to share
power only... they are not concerned about the development of Bihar," he
said.
Kharge also asked as to what happened to Modi's promise of a
Rs 1.25-lakh crore package for Bihar, and accused the PM of running a
"factory of lies".
"Modi ji had promised the people of Bihar a package of
Rs 1.25 lakh crore for the state... what happened to that? Has Nitish Kumar
received it? What happened to the promise of special status to Bihar?
"Nitish Kumar must give answers to these queries. Modi
ji speaks lies only. He is running a factory of lies," Kharge alleged.
The NDA government must be ousted in the coming assembly
polls in Bihar, he said, adding that "people should vote for
Mahagathbandhan parties in the state elections due later this year.
