Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday slammed the BJP-led Centre claiming that it uses the ED, CBI and the Income Tax Department to stop his party from winning elections. He called the agencies Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “star campaigners”.

Addressing a campaign rally in the Baikunthpur constituency of Chhattisgarh, Kharge also alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), PM Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been trying to change the Constitution.

To stop them, Congress’ victory is necessary in elections to five states, including Chhattisgarh, he said.

Speaking at another rally in Katghora assembly seat in Korba district he said, ED, CBI and Income Tax are Modi’s “star campaigners” as these agencies reach ahead of the PM wherever he goes and raid the houses of Congress leaders.

Voting was held on Tuesday for the Mizoram elections and for the first phase of Chhattisgarh polls. Polling for the second phase in Chhattisgarh, as well as elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana are scheduled for later this month.

Kharge claimed the Congress fights for the poor, while the BJP fights for “(industrialist) Adani and the rich”.

“This election is going to change the future of the country and it is very important as the BJP government, Modi ji and RSS have been trying to change the Constitution. They are trying to remove (provisions) which are in the interest of the poor and deprived people,” he alleged.

To stop them, it is necessary to bring the Congress to power in the five states, including Chhattisgarh, Kharge said.

“Modi ji says he has done so many things and asks what the Congress has done for the country. He takes the name of Congress at least 50 times in every speech as he is scared of the Congress,” he said.

To prevent the Congress from coming to power in elections and to target its workers and leaders, the BJP-led Centre uses the ED, I-T department and CBI, he alleged.

“But we are not going to be scared. The Congress will stand firmly and Bhupesh Baghel will again become the chief minister (of Chhattisgarh)... We will fulfil our promises like we did the last time,” he added.

“In Hyderabad, I had said our one candidate is contesting from one constituency, but the BJP has fielded three candidates (from one segment) and they are the ED, I-T and CBI,” Kharge claimed.

He alleged that the BJP divides people and makes one religion fight with another for votes.

“Modi ji says it is difficult to celebrate festivals in Chhattisgarh. Which festival is difficult to celebrate and for whom? He is saying this to instigate the people,” Kharge said.

“PM Modi says his party is the party of Hindus, he says this deliberately. Are we not Hindus,” the Congress leader asked.

“My name is Mallikarjun Kharge. Mallikarjun is the name of Lord Shiva. Whom are you (PM) deceiving? Why are you lying? If you keep saying this again and again, then there will be hatred in the minds of children of the country,” he said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took out the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ against hatred, he said, adding the BJP has no answer to the march led by Gandhi.

Kharge said, “Today in the country, the rich are becoming richer while the poor are becoming poorer. The youth do not have employment, they do not have work in their hands but Modi ji is not worried about it... The Congress party is doing the work of providing facilities to you. We have fulfilled all the guarantees we have promised to you.” In the Katghora rally, Kharge accused the BJP and its ideological mentor RSS of suppressing tribals, backward classes and women.

“Women do not have rights in their ideology. According to the scriptures of Manu, women and untouchables should remain away nor should they get education. These people have been propagating the same ideology. But ours is a party that thinks about the welfare of the poor and works towards it,” he said.

The first phase of polling in 20 out of the total 90 seats in the Congress-ruled state was held on Tuesday.

Polling in the remaining 70 seats, including Baikunthpur and Katghora, will be held on November 17.

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