Buxar (Bihar), Apr 20 (PTI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday charged the Narendra Modi government at the Centre with trying to "intimidate" his party by framing top leaders such as Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.

Slamming the central government on the Waqf issue, Kharge alleged that the recent amendments in the Act were part of the "BJP-RSS conspiracy" to divide the people.

Addressing the party's 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan' rally at Dalsagar Stadium in Buxar, Kharge said, "The Narendra Modi government at the Centre is trying to intimidate the Congress by framing our leaders such as Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case." "We are not afraid of anyone, and nor shall we bow down before anyone. Officials of central probe agencies conducted searches in the case but did not find anything. Our leaders are not scared. Our leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi have sacrificed their lives for the country," he asserted.

Kharge said that Jawaharlal Nehru had started the 'National Herald' and 'Qaumi Awaz' newspapers during the British rule.

"The purpose of launching these newspapers was to create awareness among the masses during the freedom struggle to consolidate people's voice against the British rule. On the other hand, RSS leaders were agents of the British and were working for them. But now, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are being targeted because they are the backbone of the party. Central agencies like CBI, ED and I-T are being used to target opposition leaders," Kharge alleged.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others on charges of money laundering in the National Herald case.

Kharge alleged that the BJP and RSS were against the poor, women and weaker sections of the society.

"They (RSS-BJP) can't think for the betterment of the society. They believe in dividing the society based on caste and religion. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill passed by Parliament is a conspiracy of the BJP and the RSS to create a divide among communities," he alleged.

Training his guns on the BJP-led regime at the Centre, he said, "Modi ji and other BJP leaders only talk about Hindu-Muslim and try to divert people's attention from core issues." "Mahatma Gandhi's ideals and Dr BR Ambedkar's principles are the foundation of our ideology, and it is from these that we draw our strength. With this very strength, we will fight against injustice and defeat the ideology of hatred," he asserted.

Further, the Congress president termed the alliance between the ruling JD(U) and the BJP in Bihar as "opportunistic" and alleged that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar switches sides for 'kursi' (chair) only.

"The alliance between Nitish Kumar and the BJP is opportunistic. It is not good for the people of the state. He has switched sides only for 'kursi' (CM's post).

"The JD(U) chief has joined hands with the ideology that killed Mahatma Gandhi. The BJP-JD(U) alliance has been formed to share power only... they are not concerned about the development of Bihar," he said.

Kharge also asked as to what happened to Modi's promise of a Rs 1.25-lakh crore package for Bihar, and accused the PM of running a "factory of lies".

"Modi ji had promised the people of Bihar a package of Rs 1.25 lakh crore for the state... what happened to that? Has Nitish Kumar received it? What happened to the promise of special status to Bihar? "Nitish Kumar must give answers to these queries. Modi ji speaks lies only. He is running a factory of lies," Kharge alleged.

The NDA government must be ousted in the coming assembly polls in Bihar, he said, adding that "people should vote for Mahagathbandhan parties in the state elections due later this year. PTI PKD BDC ACD

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National Herald case aimed at intimidating Congress: Kharge

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