Nagpur: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said that the party would conduct caste-based census as suggested by MP Rahul Gandhi, when its government assumes power at the Centre (after next years Lok Sabha elections).Speaking to the media after his arrival at the city airport for attending the wedding ceremony of former MP Avinash Pandes son, Kharge denied the BJPs accusations that the grand old party was indulging in appeasement politics in the poll-bound states.Many top Congress leaders including former Madhya Pradesh CM Digvijay Singh, former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan, senior leader Balasaheb Thorat and others attended the marriage ceremony.It is the BJP under home minister Amit Shah that started appeasement politics. The Congress always followed the path of secularism. We are the ones who organized Bharat Jodo Yatra to unite the people of this country. The BJP is indulging in politics of polarisation, he said.On BJP lodging complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Rahul Gandhi for allegedly calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi panauti and claiming that Modi got his caste Ghanchi Teli included in the Teli community when he was Gujarat chief minister, Kharge backed the party MP.We have received the notice from ECI, and we will file a proper reply. The criticism didnt warrant a complaint. The BJP is unnecessarily creating a fuss due to the upcoming elections, he said. Rahul Gandhi made the comments while addressing a public rally in poll-bound Rajasthans Barmer.On PM Modi accusing the Congress government in Rajasthan of corruption, Kharge said that he had addressed the issue during his election campaign. BJP should give the proof of the corruption. They are making false claims. BJP is threatening the opposition party candidates by misusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), CBI and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). This is unacceptable in democracy, Kharge said.We also published the following articles recentlyCongress upholds secularism, BJP indulges in polarisation, says Mallikarjun KhargeCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge accuses BJP of polarisation and appeasement politics. Kharge upholds secularism and refers to the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi. BJP complains to Election Commission against Rahul Gandhi. Election Commission issues show-cause notice to Gandhi for loan-waiver remarks. Congress committed to conducting caste-based census if voted to power.BJP moves Election Commission, seeks action against Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge for targeting PM ModiThe BJP has filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Rahul Gandhi for his panauti jibe at PM Modi. They also accused Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge of falsely claiming Modis inclusion in Gujarats OBC list. The BJP requested the EC to take legal action and pass a prohibitory order against Kharge and Gandhi. The Ghanchi caste was included in the OBC list in 1999, while Modi became CM in 2001. The BJP warned that abusive language and false news could spoil the electoral environment.BJP: Kharge claim on stealthy OBC tag for Modi caste baselessCongress faces backlash over Rahul Gandhis remark about PM Modis surname; Gujarat MLA Purnesh Modi criticizes Mallikarjun Kharges insinuation about PM Modi favoring Ghanchi-Teli caste; Purnesh Modi highlights the 1994 government resolution that included Modi community in OBC list; Congress focuses on caste survey in assembly poll manifestos; PM Modi became Gujarat CM in 2001; inclusion of castes in OBC list has been ongoing for decades; Union government order of January 1, 2002, included Telis, Modh Ghanchis, and Muslim Ghanchis in Gujarats OBC list; Ghanchi community was notified in SEBC/OBC list in 1994.

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