Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Modi government and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), alleging a systematic weakening of parliamentary democracy, social justice, and the country’s constitutional framework.
Speaking during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s Address in the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, Kharge said the address lacked any meaningful focus on the poor, women, minorities, and marginalised sections of society.
Declaring that “parliamentary democracy is under attack,” Kharge demanded the immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of treating women merely as a vote bank while denying them leadership roles.
He referred to the rising number of atrocities against women and criticised the rollback of social justice schemes for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, citing reduced budgetary allocations and underutilisation of funds.
Criticising the President’s Address as a reflection of the government’s priorities rather than ground realities, Kharge said it failed to mention the plight of the poor and minorities.
He expressed anguish over the silence on attacks against minorities and accused the BJP of making anti-minority rhetoric a prerequisite for leadership. He also questioned the Prime Minister’s silence on attacks against churches, despite visiting them during election campaigns.
Kharge condemned what he termed the government’s “bulldozer politics,” calling it a serious threat to democracy. He warned against political targeting and communal polarisation by certain BJP leaders.
He also lamented the erosion of parliamentary debate and scrutiny, accusing ministers of evading questions and pushing through important legislation without adequate discussion.
Targeting Governors in opposition-ruled states, Kharge alleged that they were acting as agents of the Centre and violating constitutional norms by undermining elected state governments.
He raised concerns over law and order, citing large narcotics seizures at Gujarat ports and questioned the Prime Minister’s effectiveness in curbing the menace.
The Congress chief criticised the Prime Minister’s delayed visit to violence-hit Manipur and flagged the stalled caste census process. Warning against excessive glorification of a single leader, he accused the government of dismantling the constitutional values of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, and cautioned that the Constitution itself was under threat.
In a separate intervention, Kharge questioned the timing and contents of the proposed India–US trade deal, seeking clarity on tariff claims and safeguards for Indian farmers. Despite protests from the treasury benches, he maintained that his critique was rooted in constitutional principles and supported by facts and data.