Congress counters Modi, highlights historical ties and manifesto goals

• Congress hits back at PM Modi's accusations, citing historical collaborations between Hindu Mahasabha and Muslim League
• Jairam Ramesh criticizes BJP for divisive politics, contrasting it with Congress's stance
• Congress manifesto emphasizes "pillars of justice," focusing on key promises for socio-economic development

The Congress retaliated against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks, asserting that he lacks historical knowledge. This response follows Modi's accusation that the Congress manifesto carries a Muslim League influence, with a significant portion dominated by leftists. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh countered Modi's statement by highlighting the historical collaboration between Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee and the Muslim League in Bengal during the early 1940s. Ramesh also pointed out instances where the Hindu Mahasabha, led by Mukerjee, formed coalitions with the Muslim League in provinces like Sindh and the North-West Frontier Province.

Ramesh further criticized the BJP, accusing the party of perpetuating divisive politics. He emphasized that it is the BJP, not the Congress, that engages in and advocates for such tactics. The Congress's response came in light of Modi's criticism of the party's manifesto, which was unveiled recently. The manifesto, centered around five "pillars of justice," includes promises such as ensuring the right to apprenticeship, guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) legally, raising the cap on reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) through constitutional amendments, conducting a nationwide caste census, and scrapping the Agnipath scheme.

Modi's attack on the Congress manifesto followed its release ceremony, which featured prominent party leaders like Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The manifesto's focus on key issues and promises signifies the Congress's electoral agenda for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, aiming to address various socio-economic concerns and advocate for inclusive policies.