Addressing party leaders and workers after unfurling the national flag at the Congress headquarters, Indira Bhawan, on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, Kharge said the day was meant not only to commemorate India’s freedom struggle but also to assess whether the aspirations of the country’s freedom fighters had been fulfilled.
The event was attended by Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and several senior party leaders.
Highlighting the Congress’ contribution to nation-building, Kharge said successive Congress prime ministers, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, had strengthened the country and laid the foundation for its future growth by responding to the challenges of their respective eras.
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge alleged that the BJP government had appropriated Congress-led initiatives by renaming schemes and programmes. He remarked that the prime minister often claimed credit for work carried out by previous governments and expressed concern over what he described as efforts to erase the Congress’ legacy.
Kharge also focused on issues facing young people, claiming that government policies had undermined their aspirations and led to growing discontent across the country. He said youth movements were emerging because many young Indians felt their dreams and opportunities were being curtailed.
“The dreams of the youth are being crushed. The government’s wrong policies have pushed them into such a dark alley that youth agitations are taking place across the country,” he said, adding that the Congress stood with the youth, the poor and the oppressed.
Emphasising the right to dissent, Kharge said the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to peaceful protest and that raising one’s voice for rights and justice cannot be considered anti-national.
“The Gen Z raising their voice for their rights are not traitors. The rights for which our youth went to the gallows under British rule must still be protected today. It is our responsibility,” he said.
Kharge further alleged that campaigns of hatred were being directed against critics of the Modi government. Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s oft-repeated slogan, he said the Congress would continue to embrace people rather than spread animosity.
“We will not hate anyone and will embrace everyone and open mohabbat ki dukaan,” he said.
Reiterating the Congress’ commitment to social harmony, Kharge argued that peace was essential for prosperity and accused the BJP and RSS of creating divisions within society.
“Only when there is peace in the country will there be prosperity. We all have to work together to achieve peace, but the BJP, RSS and the present government want to disturb this peace by creating hatred among people,” he said.
