Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said here on Thursday that the empty stomachs of the people cannot be filled by showing them photos of God.

Kharge’s acerbic remark came days after the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The Congress had earlier accused the BJP of turning the even into a political programme.

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The Congress president was in Hyderabad to address a meeting of booth-level agents at LB Stadium. He said every day the Centre was publishing huge advertisements promising the guarantees of Modi and wondered whether he could fulfill even his earlier promises.

“You cannot fill the stomachs of people by simply showing them photos of Gods. They need to work to fill their stomachs and for that they require employment,” he said.

“Whenever there is a crisis, he (PM Modi) makes excuses – sometimes he names Pakistan, sometimes he talks about China or about God,” he added.

Kharge further said that on 22 January, the prime minister did not allow anyone to visit Ayodhya – neither his ministers, nor the veteran leaders of his party. Even Lk Advani and MM Joshi, who had led the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement, were not allowed to visit the temple.

He cautioned Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy against the ED, IT and CBI, the Central agencies that he alleged were being used against MPs and even those who are going to be candidates. “Revanth Reddy and all key Congress leaders should be careful … BJP will try to scare you with ED, IT and CBI. But when you fight with such people you have to use greater strength to defeat them,” said Kharge.

He also took a dig at former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao saying those who betray the Congress has to face defeat one day. He added that KCR never fought against the BJP, it was the Congress that fought against both the BJP and the BRS and defeated them. He urged party workers to work at the village level.

Addressing the same gathering, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy promised to deliver two more guarantees in the month of February. He said all the 63 lakh farmers would receive the first instalment of input subsidy under Rythu Bharosa.

Reddy compared KCR with infamous criminal Charles Sobhraj and BRS working president KT Rama Rao and party leader T Harish Rao as Billa and Ranga.