Congress Files Complaint After BJP Accuses Manifesto of Having “Muslim League Imprint

The Congress released its 2024 Lok Sabha election manifesto on Friday. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has led the fightback, stating that the BJP is aware it is going to lose this election and is acting out of fear. The party has filed a complaint with the Election Commission. On Saturday, while addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur, the Prime Minister declared the Congress’ manifesto “completely bears the imprint of the Muslim League”.

The Congress’ Pawan Khera told reporters that they have raised many issues, including how the Prime Minister referred to their manifesto as a “copy of the Muslim League” and about Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s election affidavits. Mr Khera and other top leaders met the poll panel this afternoon. The “Muslim League imprint” jab also drew a fierce retort from Mr Kharge, who attacked the Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah for “spreading falsehood”. He made a strong swipe at the BJP and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Mr Kharge posted on X, accusing Modi-Shah’s political and ideological ancestors of supporting the British and Muslim League against the Indians in the freedom struggle. He criticized the BJP’s electoral graph and accused the RSS of remembering its best friend – the Muslim League. The Congress had previously stated after the PM’s initial jibe, that he “does not know his history”. They pointed out that Jana Sangh founder and BJP ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee himself was part of a coalition government in Bengal with the Muslim League in the early 1940s.

The section of the manifesto that has sparked this row is a guarantee to increase reservation for marginalised groups, including Dalits, past the Supreme Court’s 50 per cent cap. BJP President Mr Nadda questioned the reservation on the basis of religion and promised reservation beyond 50 per cent, comparing it to the Muslim League’s stance on reservation.