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Congress Chief Accuses PM Modi of “Filthy Propaganda” Against Former PM Singh
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has launched a scathing counterattack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of running “Goebbelsian” and “filthy” propaganda campaigns against former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Kharge characterized these attacks as not just political but also an insult to the Sikh faith.
The heated exchange emerged following Modi’s recent address in the Rajya Sabha, where the Prime Minister accused Congress of disrespecting Sikhs. Modi’s comments referenced a viral video showing an interaction between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Ravneet Bittu, in which Bittu was allegedly referred to as a “traitor.”
Defending his party’s record on religious inclusion, Kharge emphasized that Congress has demonstrated its respect for the Sikh community by elevating Manmohan Singh to prominent positions in government. “Congress respects the Sikh religion and made Manmohan Singh finance minister and Prime Minister twice,” Kharge stated, contrasting this with what he described as Modi’s deliberate campaign of “false propaganda” designed to unseat Singh from power.
The Congress President didn’t hold back in his criticism of Modi’s parliamentary performance, suggesting the Prime Minister appeared “mentally disturbed” during his address. Kharge connected this to international pressures, specifically mentioning the “Epstein Files,” which he claimed are being used by former U.S. President Donald Trump as leverage against Modi.
Taking the diplomatic critique further, Kharge alleged that Modi has compromised India’s agricultural interests to appease American demands. “As soon as Trump caught him, Modi surrendered, he knelt down and made a trade deal,” Kharge claimed. “But who did he sacrifice? He sacrificed the farmers of this country and extended an invitation to the agriculturists from the US to come here. He is making our people poor and making the agriculturists of rural America rich.”
The veteran Congress leader also criticized the substance of Modi’s 97-minute parliamentary address, claiming the Prime Minister deliberately avoided addressing pressing current issues in favor of repeating what Kharge characterized as “falsehoods.”
This confrontation highlights the increasingly polarized political atmosphere in India as both major parties position themselves ahead of upcoming electoral contests. The religious dimension of the dispute is particularly significant in a country where religious identity often intersects with political allegiance.
Manmohan Singh, who served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, was India’s first Sikh Prime Minister and is widely credited with implementing significant economic reforms during his earlier tenure as Finance Minister in the early 1990s. Despite his economic credentials as a former Reserve Bank of India Governor and Oxford-educated economist, Singh’s leadership was frequently targeted by opposition criticism during his terms in office.
The latest exchange between the Congress and BJP leadership reflects long-standing tensions between the parties regarding their respective approaches to religious minorities and accusations of using religious identity for political gain. Both sides have repeatedly accused the other of politicizing religion and failing to protect minority interests.
As Parliament continues its session, political observers expect these confrontations to intensify, particularly as both parties seek to energize their bases through increasingly sharp rhetoric about their opponents’ records and intentions.
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6 Comments
As someone who follows Indian politics closely, I’m not surprised to see this kind of partisan bickering. The Congress and BJP have a long history of accusing each other of disrespecting minority communities for political gain. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail, and they can find common ground on issues that matter to all Indians.
The Congress party does seem to have a stronger record of Sikh representation in government, with Manmohan Singh serving as both finance minister and prime minister. However, the BJP also has prominent Sikh leaders, so I’m not sure this will be a decisive issue for Sikh voters.
This spat is a distraction from the real issues facing India, like the economy, infrastructure, and public services. I wish the political parties would spend more time debating their visions and policy proposals rather than hurling accusations at each other.
It’s concerning to see allegations of ‘Goebbelsian propaganda’ being thrown around. While political opponents often trade barbs, it’s important that they maintain civil and respectful discourse, especially on sensitive religious and community issues.
I agree. Invoking Nazi propaganda tactics is a serious charge that should not be made lightly. Both sides need to be more measured in their rhetoric and focus on substantive policy debates rather than personal attacks.
This is a fascinating political drama. It’s interesting to see the accusations and counter-accusations flying between the Congress and BJP parties over the treatment of Sikhs. I wonder how this back-and-forth will impact their standing with Sikh voters.