Modi exploiting sacrifices of defence forces for electoral gains: Congress

New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to exploit the sacrifices and achievements of the defence forces for electoral gains. He said that Modi’s sole concern was winning elections.

Addressing a public meeting at Raichur in Karnataka today, the Congress president noted that after the Pahalgam terror attack and during Operation Sindoor, the entire country was united and stood strongly with defence forces.

He said the BJP tried to claim credit for this, appropriating the soldiers' actions as their own. “If the BJP had fought like a Captain, Colonel, Lieutenant, or General, we would have commended them”, he took a jibe at the BJP, while adding, “the credit is being claimed by those who played no such role”.

Kharge recalled that he urged PM Modi to call an All-Party Meeting. “Although an All-Party Meeting was called twice, PM Modi didn’t attend either of the meetings despite being in the country, while leaders from across the country, from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari, all took part”, he pointed out while asserting the nation will not tolerate such ill-treatment of the Opposition leaders.

He noted that Modi was busy in the Bihar election campaign, while the soldiers were fighting at the border.

Kharge said that during the times of war, we were all united in national interest, but Modi was only concerned with how his party could benefit from the situation.

“For us, the country is very important. We have never feared anyone. We've never backed down from a challenge”, he said, while recalling that during the Bangladesh War, America dispatched its formidable 7th Fleet – a force as vast as a city, bristling with weapons and equipment. Yet, he pointed out, Smt. Indira Gandhi stood her ground.

“To protect India and aid the people of Bangladesh, she fearlessly confronted our adversaries. She declared her unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation, securing its borders, and protecting humanity, emphasising the need to halt the conflicts in our neighbourhood”, he said, while drawing parallels with the current regime’s handling of the post-Pahalgam terror attack situation.

Kharge also questioned Prime Minister Modi’s silence over the Iran-Israel war. “Iran has been consistently supporting our country. We procure nearly 50% crude oil from Iran. Currently, the war is happening in Iran. But PM Modi is not speaking anything about this war and still calls himself a Vishwaguru”, he noted.

“Whether he is a 'Vishwaguru' or not, it doesn’t matter. What matters to people is food, clothing, shelter, and the price of fuel. He was supported for these causes, not to roam around the nation”, he said about Modi.

Calling for the war to end, he said, “We wish the war between Israel and Iran stops.” He said, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, in an article on this, exhorted that India should speak up and there should be peace in the world.

“We should always think whether we need ‘Buddha’ or ‘Yuddha’ in our country and the world”, he said, while remarking, “Buddha gives peace, while 'Yuddha' yields destruction.”

Kharge said the Congress also wants world peace and an end to such wars.