The Hindu
Pics: KPN, Bangalore
GULBARGA, Jun 21: Union Minister for Labour and Employment M. Mallikarjun Kharge was given a hero’s welcome in Gulbarga city on Saturday on his maiden visit to his home district after assuming charge as the Union Minister.
Congress leaders and supporters received Mr. Kharge at a temporary helipad on the Gulbarga University campus and took him in a procession in a flower-bedecked vehicle to the Public Garden, the venue of a felicitation function.
Senior Congress leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah, former Chief Minister and Bidar MP N. Dharam Singh, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president R.V. Deshpande and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council V.S. Ugrappa, were with him.
Braving sweltering weather, a large number of people thronged Nagareshwar School campus from where the precession began. Many of them were offering garlands to Mr. Kharge and other Congress leaders.
Addressing a gathering at the Public Garden, Mr. Kharge said that he was overwhelmed by the rousing reception given to him, and love and affection showered by people of Gulbarga had only increased his responsibility to stand up to their aspirations and expectations.
Displeasure
Kharge, who did not hide his displeasure over his low victory margin in the Lok Sabha election, said that he did not want to go into the reasons for the low victory margin.
He had decided to carry forward to development in the region and the State.
“I need cooperation of the State Government in my endeavours to bring more projects to Karnataka and more funds for development works.”
Referring to statements of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa questioning his [Kharge’s] and Singh’s contribution for development of the region, Kharge said, “Contribution made by us is well-known to the people of the region…”
On the long-pending demand for amendment to Article 371 of the Constitution, Kharge and Singh said they would work in tandem to bring pressure on the Union Government to concede the demand.
Siddaramaiah in his speech came down heavily on the BJP Government for ‘mishandling” the financial situation of the State. Deshpande and Ugrappa were among those who spoke.