Mumbai: On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a prominent Congress leader, launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Speaking at a public rally in Sangli, Maharashtra, Gandhi accused the BJP of seeking to ensure that only a select few benefit from the country's resources.

Gandhi stated, "Congress' ideology is embedded in the DNA of Maharashtra. What we see today is not just political competition but a deep ideological battle. We aim for social progress, but the BJP desires that only a privileged few receive all the benefits."

He further targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the recent collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue. Gandhi asserted that Modi should offer an apology not only to Shivaji Maharaj but also to every resident of Maharashtra. "I guarantee that the statue of Kadam ji (the late Congress minister Patangrao Kadam) will remain here for 50-70 years. However, the statue of Shivaji Maharaj fell just days after its installation. This is a profound insult to Shivaji Maharaj. The Prime Minister should apologize to both Shivaji Maharaj and the people of Maharashtra," he said.

Gandhi accused the BJP of spreading hatred across the country, claiming that such practices are not new and have been part of the BJP's strategy for centuries. He positioned the current ideological battle as a continuation of past struggles, noting, "Today's fight is between the BJP and Congress, just as it was historically fought by Shivaji Maharaj and Phule ji. If you study the ideologies of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shahuji Maharaj, Phuleji, and Ambedkarji, you will see that their ideologies align with that of the Congress."

Earlier in the day, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi unveiled a statue of the late Congress leader Patangrao Kadam in Sangli district. This event came in the wake of an incident on August 26, when a 35-foot-tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg district collapsed. The statue, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4 last year during Navy Day celebrations, had only recently been installed.

Gandhi also reiterated the Congress party's and the INDIA bloc's commitment to conducting a caste census, pledging that it would be implemented if they come to power. "I have stated in the Lok Sabha that the Congress will ensure a caste census. Our alliance is committed to this," he affirmed.

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