Varanasi: Congress members in Kashi on Sunday appealed to public to take to the streets and struggle under the sun to oust Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Kashi and from power at Centre. Congress organised a ‘Constitution Dialogue Rally’ at Shastri Ghat here on Sunday to mobilise party workers and people against “disturbing Kashi’s identity, crisis over autonomy of democratic institutions, attacks on secularism, assault on the federal structure, and endangering democracy and Constitution”.Speakers kept targeting BJP-led govts at centre and state on issues such as alleged desecration of Rani Ahilyabai’s statue in the name of redevelopment of Manikarnika Ghat, challenging the authority of Swami Avimukteshwaranand in Prayagraj and tampering with Kashi’s culture, heritage, soul and identity. UP Congress Committee president Ajay Rai said the rally was not only to protect Kashi’s identity, but also to save democracy. The rally in the PM’s constituency was a medium for Kashi residents to convey their voice to govt, he said, adding, “We will not allow destruction and plunder of Kashi’s temples, idols, ghats, markets and rural lands for his industrialist friends and appeal to the PM not to punish people of Kashi because the elections you won were won dishonestly.”AICC general secretary Avinash Pandey targeted SIR, alleging people’s voting rights are being snatched away. Congress would sacrifice all to strengthen the country’s constitution and democracy and will never let dreams of the nation’s great leaders and freedom fighters be shattered, said Pandey. Party’s national spokesperson Pawan Khera said PM Modi had not made a trade deal but a threat deal with the US, where the country’s sovereignty was compromised, as America will monitor India as if we were thieves.Other national spokesperson Supriya Shrinate called on youth, saying they must unite against the dictatorial BJP govt and uproot it completely in the upcoming 2027 elections.MP Kishori Lal Sharma appealed to Congress workers to save the Constitution and democracy.MP Ujjwal Raman Singh said Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was not being allowed to speak in Parliament, so now the party must take to the streets.MP Imran Masood said, “Our ancestors created Constitution and democracy through struggle and sacrifice; we will not let it be destroyed.”
