AFZALPUR(KALABURAGI DISTRICT): Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks that the Congress wants to snatch the mangalsutra of women as part of its intention to redistribute wealth, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the PM should not stoop to such lows, which is a shameful act.
Addressing an election meeting at Afzalpur in Kalaburagi district, Kharge said Modi was comparing the Congress manifesto with that of the Muslim League’s. “I do not know what has happened to the Prime Minister. I have written to him for an open discussion on a common platform on the issue. If he accepts my invitation, I will discuss with him our (Congress) manifesto. The Congress is such a great party that it aims at the welfare of all human beings,” Kharge said, adding that the Congress manifesto has many schemes for the youth, women, farmers, and SC/ST students.
Kharge, a former MP from Kalaburagi, also listed the development work done by him for the district when he was a minister in Karnataka and at the Centre during the UPA regime.
Further hitting out at the PM, Kharge said, “He (Modi) will not only tell lies, but he and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are not pro-people. If the time comes, they will sell the nation, and people like Ambani and Adani will buy it.”
The AICC chief turned emotional while referring to his defeat in the 2019 Parliamentary elections in Kalaburagi. “Though I secured fewer votes in Afzalpur, I cannot say that it was the only reason for my defeat. The so-called great leaders of the BJP, including Amit Shah and Sulibele Chakravarthi, camped here to defeat me.
I have recovered from the shock of my defeat. Now, the Congress has fielded Radhakrishna Doddamani as the candidate. See my work in Kalaburagi district and exercise your franchise in favor of Radhakrishna to show that the people of Kalaburagi are in favor of the Congress. That would be a lesson for Modi. If he (Radhakrishna) faces defeat, it means you people have removed me from your heart,” Kharge told the voters. Radhakrishna is the son-in-law of Kharge.
Kharge further said that he will not retire from politics for now, and will continue his fight for the welfare of the oppressed classes and to defeat the RSS. “I may or may not contest the elections… it is a different thing. But I will not retire from politics at any time. I will be with the people of my karmabhoomi Kalaburagi and janmabhoomi Bidar till my last breath,” an emotional Kharge said.
