'Daroge to Maroge', Kharge jibe at PM's 'Saath Rahenge'

Ranchi: Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP's jibes "Eh rahoge toh safe rahoge" and "Katoge toh maroge", Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday coined the slogan "Daroge to Maroge", saying the saffron party and its leaders were trying to polarise the voters ahead of the crucial Jharkhand election.

In response to the PM's allegations against the Hemant Soren-led govt, Kharge said, "Modi and his govt are against OBC, SC and ST as they reduced the reservation quota in Jharkhand in the past. Our govt got a resolution passed to increase the reservation limits in the state assembly and sent the proposal to the governor. But the governor is yet to act on the issue."

Kharge, who was addressing the last rally before the Nov 13 assembly election in support of Congress candidate Radha Krishan Kishore at Chatterpur and other INDIA bloc alliance candidates in the Palamu-Latehar region, also criticised UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, saying BJP believes in coming to office by resorting to divisive politics and fear-mongering. "Yogi ji visited here a few days ago. He is the heath of a ‘maath' and wears a dress donned by sadhus. But sadhus must be compassionate and unite people to safeguard humanity. However, he said, ‘Batoge to Katoge'. You must now understand that ‘daroge to maroge'," he said.

Taking a dig at Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Kharge said, "He (Himanta) came here and tried to intimidate the locals — those working with Congress or its allies. ‘Lekin hum darne wale nahi hai. Hum darenge to marenge' ((But cannot be intimidated. We will die if we are afraid)."

The Congress president claimed said the INDIA bloc's united fight to save the country's democracy and constitutional rights prevented BJP and Modi from getting the required numbers in the Lok Sabha election held this year. "Modiji is running a minority govt because of your power. It is also because of your fight to save the country. Once again, you have to show your power to help our alliance form the state govt to fight such divisive forces," he said.

Lashing out at the I-T raids against chief minister Hemant Soren's aide over the past two days, Kharge said, "Modi ji is again trying to make central agencies like the ED, CBI and I-T pursue our members and alliance partners during elections. But we aren't afraid and won't be bogged down. Our party workers had laid down their lives for India's independence. We are committed to safeguarding democracy and the Constitution."

Hailing the five-year tenure of the Hemant govt in Jharkhand, Kharge said the administration focused on staying united and working for the welfare of the people despite BJP's attempts to topple the govt. "We tried to deliver all promises that we had made, unlike the jumlas of BJP," he said, citing welfare schemes tabled and implemented by the govt.

The PM, Adanis, Ambanis and Amit Shah are running the country, he claimed.