Lok Sabha elections 2024: Dalits, tribals to become slaves again if Modi get third term, says Kharge

Mallikarjun Kharge. File Pic/PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday asked the people to vote for his party, claiming that a third term for PM Modi and Amit Shah would mean that the poor, Dalits and tribals would be 'treated like slaves', the PTI reported.

While addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Dhule district on Sunday, Mallikarjun Kharge appealed to voters to choose his party to save democracy and the Constitution.

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The Congress has fielded former MLA Shobha Bachhav from the Dhule constituency for the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

"Before Independence, the poor, Dalits and tribals were treated like slaves. If you give a third term to Modi and Shah, the same situation will repeat. We will become slaves again," Mallikarjun Kharge said, as per the PTI.

Dhule in north Maharashtra will go to polls in the fifth phase of the general elections on May 20. Here, the BJP has nominated former Union minister Subhash Bhamre.

"You have to vote for your own sake and your own people. We need to save the Constitution. This election will shape the future of the country, thus it is an important election," he said.

If there is no Constitution, there will be 'no one to save you', he said, claiming that 'RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had said in 2015 that the Constitution should be changed'. Later, many BJP MPs and saffron party leaders also made similar statements, he said, the news agency reported on Sunday.

Mallikarjun Kharge also accused PM Modi of 'spreading lies'.

PM Modi chest-thumped about bringing back black money from abroad but never delivered on that promise, said Mallikarjun Kharge.

"He claimed to provide two crore jobs every year but never did. Instead of increasing farmers' income, as per his claims, his wrong policies increased the production cost for growers. That is why PM Modi should be removed from power," Mallikarjun Kharge added.

Modi won't be PM after poll results in June: Tharoor

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said the country need not have to wait till September 2025 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not remain at the helm after June 4, when results of Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be declared, the PTI reported.

Shashi Tharoor's comments come a day after AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal claimed Modi is asking for votes for Home Minister Amit Shah, who will be his successor after Modi "retires" on turning 75 in September 2025.

"A new government will come to power at the Centre in June. There is no need to wait till September 2025," Tharoor said while responding to a query on Kejriwal's remarks.

(with PTI inputs)