'Daroge toh maroge,' Kharge tells Jharkhand voters as poll campaign ends

RANCHI: Responding to PM Narendra Modi and BJP’s poll slogans “Eh rahoge toh safe rahoge (Stay united and you’ll be safe)” and “Batoge toh katoge (Divided, you’ll be destroyed)”, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge Monday countered with “Daroge toh maroge (If you get scared, you’re dead)”, saying the saffron party and its politicians were trying to polarise voters ahead of the Jharkhand election.

In response to the PM’s allegations against the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand govt, Kharge said, “Modi and his govt are against OBC, SC and ST as they reduced the reservation quota in Jharkhand in the past. Our govt got a resolution passed to increase the reservation limits in the state assembly and sent the proposal to the governor. But the governor is yet to act on the issue.”

Kharge, who was addressing a rally in support of Congress candidate Radha Krishan Kishore at Chatterpur and other INDIA bloc alliance candidates in Palamu-Latehar region, also criticised UP CM Yogi Adityanath, saying BJP believes in coming to office by resorting to divisive politics and fear-mongering. “Yogi-ji visited here a few days ago. He is the head of a ‘math’ and wears a dress donned by sadhus. But sadhus must be compassionate and unite people to safeguard humanity. However, he said, ‘Batoge toh katoge’. You must now understand that ‘daroge toh maroge’,” he said.

Kharge also said, “(Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma) came here and tried to intimidate locals — those working with Congress or its allies. ‘Lekin hum darne wale nahin hain. Hum darenge to marenge’ (But we can’t be intimidated. If we grow fearful we’ll die).”

Kharge said INDIA bloc’s united fight to save democracy and constitutional rights prevented BJP and Modi from getting the required numbers in the Lok Sabha election. “Modi-ji is running a minority govt because of your power. It is because of your fight to save the country. Once again you have to show your power to help our alliance form the state govt to fight such divisive forces.”

Hailing the five-year tenure of Hemant government, Kharge said the administration focused on staying united and working for the welfare of the people despite BJP’s attempts to topple the government. “We tried to deliver all promises we made, unlike the jumlas of BJP.”