During the election campaign, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, in the presence of Sonia Gandhi, recited a mantra related to Bajrangbali, but with a twist that surprised many. He said, “Jai Bajrang Bali, break the drain of corruption.”
Ever since the ban on Bajrang Dal was included in the Congress manifesto, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been accusing the Congress of being anti-Hindu.
In an exclusive conversation with News18, Kharge said that he got 80 Hanuman temples built in his constituency Kalaburagi because people wanted it. He also said that religion and politics should be kept separate, but the BJP does not believe in this.
Read this also | Karnataka Polls: Old pension scheme in Congress Manifesto, ban on Bajrang Dal, BJP vows to remove ‘unjust laws’ top promises
He also criticized the PM for holding a roadshow in Bengaluru while Manipur was burning. Not wishing to delve into who could be the CM if the Congress wins, Kharge has ruled himself out by saying he is not a dark horse.
Edited excerpts:
Bajrang Bali has entered the election field. Do you think this issue has put the Congress on the backfoot?
They deliberately do this at the time of elections. In Goa, they banned Shri Ram Sena and nobody said anything, not even the Prime Minister. In this election, because they fear they are losing, they are raising the issue. The majority of people here are Hindu, and everyone worships different gods and goddesses. Why should politics be linked to religion? Both should be separate. But these people want to mix it up and polarize the state.
But when your state president DK Shivkumar says that if Congress comes to power then Hanuman temple will be built, it seems you are on backfoot…
I don’t know what DK said in Hubli. But to give an example, in my constituency, I wanted to build roads etc. but many people came to me and said they wanted help in renovating or building temples. So I said ok, because I had to respect their belief. You will be surprised to know that I have renovated and constructed 80 Hanuman temples in my constituency itself. The best part is that anyone irrespective of caste can go there.
What about the ban on Bajrang Dal? Your leaders have said that it is not possible for the state governments to do this…
Again, I do not want to comment on what others in my party have said. We will see what can be done if voted to power.
Read this also | From animal fate to pilgrimage, maths, temples: Congress’s ‘soft Hindutva’ push for Karnataka
BJP says it is ironic that Congress talks of ‘40% commission government’ when many top Congress leaders are out on bail?
tell me one thing. Is First Information Report (FIR) on defamation same as FIR on murder? We are not the only ones talking about corruption. There are written complaints, some of them have even been sent to the Prime Minister, the President and the Governor. People are asking this question. We are here to answer it. There are people who are in jail.
Is Congress scared of PM’s trump card and his road show?
It is the desire of the PM to do roadshows and go to every street. No PM has done this till date. He is doing this because he is afraid. He should not forget that his duty is towards the people. Manipur is burning, but both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister don’t care. He wants power for his people, not development or a peaceful environment.
Read this also | Congress leader Veerappa Moily said there is no proposal to ban Bajrang Dal
Who will be the chief minister if your party wins? Will you be the dark horse?
I’m not a dark horse. In our party, the MLAs decide. Anyone can become CM. Many times there has been talk of my becoming CM. But I have done what I had to do. Now I want my party to win here.
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