The Modi government ignored real issues such as inflation, unemployment, alleges Mr. Kharge
The Modi government ignored real issues such as inflation, unemployment, alleges Mr. Kharge
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, who is contesting the election for the AICC president’s post, on Sunday said the RSS-backed BJP government at the Centre was not functioning as per the Constitution and alleged that it was misusing the investigating agencies to destabilise the Congress-ruled governments in States.
Mr. Kharge, who was at the party office in Bengaluru to seek votes, alleged that the Narendra Modi government had no respect for democracy and it destabilised the Congress-ruled governments in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra and Manipur.
A strong Opposition was needed to fight the BJP-led government in the country for strengthening the democracy, Mr. Kharge said.
AICC prez polls, a ‘friendly fight’
Speaking at a press conference, The veteran Congress leader alleged that the BJP had been dividing the society on religious lines and ignoring real issues such as inflation and unemployment and unemployment, sliding of rupee against dollar.
Mr. Kharge refused to react to some of the remarks made by his opponent in the elections and MP Shashi Tharoor, and said his main intention to contest the elections was to strengthen the party organisation. He termed the elections as a “friendly fight”, and recalled the contributions of AICC president Sonia Gandhi to the party and the country for the last 20 years. “This is an in-house election and I will seek suggestions from him (Tharoor),” Mr. Kharge said.
On Mr. Tharoor’s allegations of a ‘lack of a level-playing field’ with party delegates turning up in large numbers for his contender Mr Kharge’s campaign while his visits to various party units are evoking a cold response, Mr. Kharge said his election managers have been contacting delegates and seeking votes.
He said collective leadership was essential for strengthening the party’s organisation at all levels. Mr. Kharge refused to comment on some of the BJP leaders’ demand for removal of reservation given to Muslims in Karnataka.
A total of 494 office-bearers of the party in Karnataka are eligible to exercise their votes in the elections to the post of the AICC president on October 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
