Bhubaneswar, 11 November (H.S.): The Congress cannot tolerate leadership emerging from poor and tribal communities, alleged Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan while participating in the ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ march in Angul on Wednesday.

Addressing a public meeting after the march, Pradhan strongly criticised the Congress, accusing it of promoting anarchy, corruption, an anti-democratic mindset and policies that obstruct the country’s development.

He said the people of India had completely rejected the Congress’s politics of anarchy and appeasement. Following repeated electoral defeats, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership were allegedly spreading misinformation against democratic institutions, the Election Commission and the Constitution, reflecting their frustration, he added.

Referring to Odisha’s electoral history, Pradhan said the people of the State had repeatedly rejected the Congress from 1998 through the 2024 elections. He claimed that the party had also lost much of its political influence in several states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.

Highlighting the strength of Indian democracy, Pradhan said Droupadi Murmu, born into a tribal family in Odisha, had risen to become the President of India, while Narendra Modi, the son of a tea seller, had become Prime Minister. However, he alleged that the Congress’s top leadership and the Gandhi family had difficulty accepting leadership emerging from poor and tribal backgrounds.

He further accused Congress leaders of questioning the democratic mandate, the Constitution and the Election Commission after repeated electoral setbacks.

Taking a swipe at the Congress leadership, Pradhan said the people had rejected leaders who, despite remaining in power for decades, treated governance as a family fiefdom rather than an opportunity to serve the public.

Referring to Sonia Gandhi’s book and her earlier remarks, he alleged that the Congress’s response to the Babri Masjid issue and its alleged sympathy for terrorists in connection with the Batla House encounter exposed its appeasement politics. Questioning the sacrifices of the armed forces, police and paramilitary personnel, as well as raising doubts over surgical strikes, reflected what he described as the Congress’s anti-national attitude, he said.

Pradhan said the double-engine government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ushered in a new era of development in Odisha. More than five lakh new beneficiaries had been provided pensions, while initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, road construction and rural development were progressing rapidly, he added.

He called upon party workers to create public awareness in villages against what he described as the Congress’s anarchic and negative mindset.

Dhenkanal MP Rudra Narayan Pani, Angul MLA Pratap Chandra Pradhan, Pallahara MLA Ashok Mohanty, Chhendipada MLA Agasti Behera, senior district leaders and hundreds of party workers participated in the march and public meeting.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda