In a strongly worded statement shared on social media, Kharge alleged that the Prime Minister misused official machinery despite the Model Code of Conduct being in place, calling it a “travesty of
democracy and the Constitution.”
A desperate and frustrated PM @narendramodi with nothing meaningful to show for the last 12 years, turned an official address to the nation, into a political speech, full of mudslinging, and outright LIES. The Model Code of Conduct is already in place and it was very clear how PM…
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 18, 2026
Highlighting what he described as misplaced priorities, Kharge claimed that Modi mentioned the Congress party repeatedly in his speech while barely addressing issues concerning women. He said this reflected the government’s political focus over genuine commitment to women’s empowerment.
Defending the Congress party’s stance, Kharge asserted that the party has consistently supported women’s reservation. He pointed out that Congress had passed the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 and also supported the 2023 legislation introduced by the BJP government. He further questioned the delay in notifying the law, stating it took three years for the government to act.
Kharge also accused the government of conflating delimitation-related constitutional amendments with the Women’s Reservation Bill, alleging that such moves were intended to redraw the electoral landscape for political advantage.
Calling on the Prime Minister to “stop misleading the nation,” Kharge demanded immediate implementation of 33% reservation for women in the existing Lok Sabha seats. He also urged Modi to apologise to the people of India.
The Congress leader went on to highlight the party’s historical contributions, including landmark reforms such as the Green Revolution, economic liberalisation in 1991, Aadhaar expansion, and key welfare legislations like RTI, MGNREGA, and the Food Security Act. He also underlined Congress’ role in passing major pro-women laws over the decades.
Criticising the BJP’s track record, Kharge raised concerns over rising crimes against women and cited cases such as Hathras and Unnao, alleging inaction and political shielding of the accused. He further accused the ruling party of prioritising political narratives over addressing pressing economic challenges, including inflation and public distress.
Kharge added that at a time of global uncertainty and domestic economic concerns, the Prime Minister’s address lacked substantive solutions and instead focused on attacking the opposition, particularly the Congress party.
