New Delhi [India], July 26 : Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Rajeev Chandrashekhar on Saturday criticised Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing them of inconsistency and corruption. Chandrashekhar claimed Gandhi frequently changes his stance on issues, lacking strong views or beliefs.
Chandrashekhar alleged that Gandhi raises new issues when previous ones fail to gain traction, portraying him as an inconsistent politician. The BJP leader accuses the Congress party of unleashing unprecedented corruption in states where they are in power, contrary to Gandhi's public rhetoric.
"Rahul Gandhi completely recycles all of his issues every few days. When one thing fails he raises another issue and it goes on... He is not a politician with any strong views or beliefs. Congress has governments in three states (Telangana, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka) and nowhere is he implementing what he talks about," Chandrashekhar told ANI.
He also levelled serious allegations against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, claiming that the latter's whole family has "engaged in land grabbing" in Karnataka for "years and decades".
"Mallikarjun Kharge's whole family has engaged in land grabbing in Karnataka for years and decades. Him saying that RSS and BJP are poison doesn't make RSS and BJP poison," Chandrashekhar told ANI.
Notably, Rahul Kharge, the son of Mallikarjun Kharge, withdrew his request for land allotment in Bengaluru in October 2024 amid allegations of land grabbing. The BJP has been vocal about the Congress party's supposed involvement in land-related scandals.
Chandrashekhar's statement comes after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday, while speaking at the 'Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan' of OBC at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi, accused RSS-BJP of spreading poison. The Congress President was reiterating the party's demand for a nationwide caste-based census and the removal of the 50 per cent cap on reservations.
He further praised Rahul Gandhi for showing "courage" in demanding a caste census and urged people to support him. He said that the government has not taken strong steps for SCs, STs, OBCs, and women, but Rahul Gandhi stands with the backwards and deprived.
"RSS-BJP people spread poison. They work to divide people against each other, but we must remain united. We must support the Congress party with courage. Just as people stood together during the time of independence, if you all support us in the same way, no one can shake the Congress party. The OBC caste census should happen; this courage has been shown only by Rahul Gandhi ji. Therefore, we must all support Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi ji stands with the backwards and deprived, supports them, and fights for their rights, so you should definitely support him. The Modi government has not taken any concrete steps for SC, ST, OBC, and women," he added.
Chandrashekhar argued that instead of implementing policies focusing on social issues, Congress has unleashed corruption in Telangana, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. He said that Rahul Gandhi's words were a "cover" for Congress' real objectives, which are to divide people and create chaos.
"Instead, in the name of all these social issues, the Congress has unleashed corruption of the kind that the people of these states have never seen. Rahul Gandhi says these things, but they are a cover for Congress' real objectives, which are corruption, dividing people and creating chaos," Chandrashekhar said.
Earlier in the day, Congress leader Udit Raj said that Rahul Gandhi will prove to be the "second Ambedkar" for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) if they listen to what he said during the Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan.
Raj compared Rahul Gandhi to Babasaheb Ambedkar and said that the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) must support the statements made by the LoP.
"Caste census in Telangana is an X-ray of society. Rahul Gandhi aims to replicate it nationwide. His views are visionary. If Dalits and backward classes come forward, our economy will boost. The inequality that prevails in society will be reduced. If OBC understands what Rahul Gandhi said, he will prove to be the second Ambedkar for them," Raj told ANI.
"OBCs will have to think that history does not give opportunities for progress again and again. They should follow and support what Rahul Gandhi said in the Talkatora Stadium conference. If they do so, then Rahul Gandhi will prove to be the second Ambedkar for them," Raj posted on X.
On Friday, Rahul Gandhi acknowledged that not conducting a caste census during the UPA government was a mistake, and said he was determined to correct it.
Speaking at the 'Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan' of OBC at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi, he said he failed to understand the issues of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community earlier, unlike those of Dalits, tribals, and women, where he claimed the Congress had done commendable work.
"I think about my work, where I did well and where I fell short, and I see two to three things. Land Acquisition Bill, MNREGA, Right to Food, Tribal Bill, and Niyamgiri struggle -- all these things I did well. As far as the issues of tribals, Dalits, and women are concerned, I should get good marks there. I did good work," he said.
"One shortcoming remained in the Congress Party and my work: I didn't protect the OBC community the way I should have. The reason is that I didn't deeply understand the OBC issues at that time. Ten to fifteen years ago, I understood the difficulties faced by Dalits. Their issues are visible, they are easily understood, but the problems of OBCs remain hidden. If I had known about your issues and problems at that time, I would have conducted a caste-based census right then. That was my mistake, which I am going to correct," he said, adding that in a way, it's good that it happened, because if I had conducted a caste-based census back then, it wouldn't have been like it is today.
He added that Dalits, backwards classes, tribals, and minorities make up 90 per cent of the country's population, yet remain excluded from key decision-making processes, including the Union Budget.