New Delhi, April 18 (NationPress) The President of Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Saturday, expressed his disapproval of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's national address, claiming it contained political overtones and raised serious concerns regarding the women's reservation issue.

In a message shared on the social media platform X, Kharge accused the Prime Minister of using the address to target the Opposition, especially the Congress party, rather than addressing crucial governance matters.

He pointed out that PM Modi mentioned the Congress numerous times while only sparingly discussing women's issues, which raises doubts about the government's dedication to women's empowerment.

"With the Model Code of Conduct already in effect, it was evident how PM Modi misused official channels to launch attacks on his opponents. This is a violation of democratic principles and the Constitution of India. Modi ji referred to Congress 59 times, while women were mentioned only a handful of times. This speaks volumes about his priorities. Women are not a priority for the BJP. The Congress party, however, stands on the rightful side of history," Kharge stated on X.

He reiterated that the Congress party has always endorsed women's reservation, recalling that the party successfully passed the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha back in 2010 to prevent its expiration. He further noted that the Congress also backed the legislation introduced by the BJP in 2023.

Kharge emphasized that the recently notified 2023 law on women’s reservation should see immediate implementation of 33 percent reservation in the current 543 Lok Sabha seats.

He accused the government of conflating different legislative matters, asserting that the ongoing discussions on constitutional amendments pertain to delimitation and are not directly associated with the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’.

Additionally, Kharge demanded an apology from the Prime Minister, alleging that the address contained misleading statements.

Highlighting the achievements of the Congress party, he referenced significant initiatives such as the Green Revolution, economic liberalization, Aadhaar implementation, and legislations like the Right to Information Act, Right to Education Act, Food Security Act, and MGNREGA.

He also mentioned laws concerning women's rights, including those that tackle workplace harassment, domestic violence, and reforms in criminal law.

Kharge criticized the BJP's record on women's safety, referencing incidents like Hathras and Unnao while presenting data on crimes against women.

He claimed that the Prime Minister opted to engage in political attacks despite the pressing economic issues and global uncertainties, accusing the ruling party and its ideological affiliates of fostering divisive politics.

"After 12 and a half years in power, amidst an international crisis, soaring inflation, a struggling economy, a depreciating Rupee, and widespread public distress, the Prime Minister had nothing substantial to present to the nation except a political speech.

"Even under the Model Code of Conduct, he chose to blame the Opposition, particularly Congress, for his own shortcomings, betrayals, and indifference. Finally, the BJP-RSS is a divisive force. The RSS historically supported the British against Indians and petitioned for their mercy. Every Indian knows that Modi Ji's political masters — the RSS — are against women. They adhere to Manusmriti, which promotes division rather than honoring the Constitution of India," Kharge concluded in his post on X.