Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accuses BJP of dividing INDIA, expresses concerns about democracy at Rajnandgaon public rally

Raipur Congress National President Mallikarjuna Kharge delivered a fervent address at the ‘Bharose ka Sammelan’’ held in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, where he accused the central BJP government of working to divide INDIA. Speaking before a gathered audience, Kharge expressed his concerns about the state of democracy, citing continuous raids in Chhattisgarh by investigative agencies ED, IT and asserting that they are undermining the democratic fabric of the country. Kharge didn’t hold back in accusing the central government of misusing the central investigation agencies for political purposes. He stressed that despite opposition actions, the Congress party remains resilient and committed to its principles. He took the opportunity to extend his gratitude to the people of Chhattisgarh, emphasizing that it was their support that propelled him to the position of National President of the Congress party. During the programme, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Deputy Chief Minister also vehemently criticized the BJP, echoing Kharge’s sentiments. Bhupesh Baghel highlighted the struggles faced by Rajnandgaon during the tenure of former Chief Minister Raman Singh, describing it as one of the most backward districts where financial exploitation in the guise of chit funds was rampant. He praised the efforts of the Congress government in returning people’s money and ensuring the district’s development. The Congress leaders also took the opportunity to inform the people about the government’s schemes and initiatives in the state. Deputy Chief Minister T S Singhdeo expressed confidence in the Congress government, stating, “The people of Chhattisgarh trust the Congress government, and we will form the government again.” School Education Minister Ravindra Choubey announced the Congress government’s commitment to supporting farmers, saying, “The Congress government will buy farmers’ rice at Rs 3,600 per quintal in the next term if elected.” Bhupesh Baghel highlighted the challenges faced during Raman Singh’s tenure, stating, “Raman Singh ruled over the 110 backward districts in the country, and Rajnandgaon was one of them. They were only engaged in cheating people under the name of chit fund companies.” Minister Amarjeet Bhagat expressed confidence in the Congress government’s track record, saying, “The people of Chhattisgarh have seen the work done by the state government. We will form the government again in Congress.” Rajnandgaon district in Chhattisgarh is renowned as the cultural capital of the state. It comprises four assembly seats: Rajnandgaon, Dongargarh, Dongargaon, and Khujji. Among these seats, only Rajnandgaon is held by the BJP, while the other three seats are represented by Congress MLAs. Notably, the Dongargarh seat is reserved for the Scheduled Caste category, and Kharge, a prominent Dalit leader in the Congress party, wields significant influence among the voters of the Dongargarh constituency. Presently, Bhuvaneshwar Baghel, a Congress member, serves as the MLA from Dongargarh, while Daleshwar Sahu and Chhanni Sahu represent Dongargaon and Khujji, respectively. In the previous election, Raman Singh faced a tough fight against Karuna Shukla, Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s niece, ultimately securing victory with a margin of only 17,000 votes.