Modi government taking away freedom of people, says Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole

Nana Patole. File pic

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Sunday said the youth must come forward in the fight against the wrong policies of the Centre, which he claimed was like a new "fight for freedom".

Speaking at an event to mark the death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak here, Patole said the Narendra Modi government was "taking away the freedom of the people", adding that the BJP was part of a system that never contributed to the country's struggle for Independence.

"Before Independence, the British lodged cases against Lokmanya Tilak when he wrote against them. The situation is the same now. Media houses are being targeted by the Modi government. We need to fight for our freedom again. Recently, I met a youth from Kashmir who told me that he resigned from the bureaucracy after clearing UPSC. He blamed the Centre and said he had to quit because he was a Muslim," Patole claimed.

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"I am appealing to the youth of this nation to come and join the Congress for this new fight for freedom against the Centre," Patole said.

He also attacked Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari for the latter's recent comments that Jawaharlal Nehru's desire to be seen by the world as a messenger of peace cost the country dearly.

'Vyarth Na Ho Balidan'

The Maharashtra Congress chief also flagged off the fortnight-long campaign 'Vyarth Na Ho Balidan' from the city's Kesriwada (Lokmanya Tilak's newspaper Kesri's headquarters) in presence of family members of freedom fighters like Lokmanya Tilak and others.

"The objective of this campaign is to create awareness among the younger generation about the country's freedom struggle and the contribution of the Congress party in it and how the present ruling party at the Centre is ruining our country," Patole told ANI.

Under this campaign, the Congress will put up hoardings displaying pictures of the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India Movement among others. The hoardings will also include pictures of Mahatma Gandhi being imprisoned in Yerwada Jail during the Quit India Movement as well as Lokmanya Tilak's famous 'Swaraj is my birthright' speech.

The party has planned more such events under this campaign across the state.

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