Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi (ANI photo)
NEW DELHI: The BJP on Saturday targeted the Gandhi–Vadra family, alleging that “their hate for Dalit is so open.” The charge from the saffron party came shortly after the Congress held a press conference in which party president Mallikarjun Kharge initially said he would not read the full note aloud and would instead circulate it to the media, before being interrupted moments later by the party’s general secretary, who urged him to read it out. Sharing a clip of the exchange, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the Congress leadership of disrespecting Kharge. He wrote on X, “Be it Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi or Jairam Ramesh, their hate for a ‘DALIT’ is so open! Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge clearly stated that he would not read the full note and would circulate it to the press instead. Within seconds, Jairam Ramesh cut in and directed him to read it out. And Kharge ji complied. This is how Gandhi – Vadra family treats their own President!”
At the press conference, the Congress announced a nationwide protest against the Centre’s decision to replace the rural employment scheme MGNREGA with what it called the VB G Ram G Act.Following the Congress Working Committee meeting, Kharge said replacing a scheme named after Mahatma Gandhi amounted to an insult to the Father of the Nation.Meanwhile, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the decision to scrap MGNREGA without consulting relevant ministers or even the Union Cabinet.The LoP also pledged to oppose the move, saying, “As Kharge ji has said, we are going to resist it. We are going to fight it. And I’m confident that the entire opposition is going to be aligned against this action.”
