Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Apr 25: AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge said that Prime Minster Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah are silent against corruption and using the government machinery like ED and CBI against the opposition leaders.
Addressing media on Tuesday April 25, Kharge said, “The upcoming state Assembly election is very significant for all of us including the public. When we reviewed the present situation, it seems very unlikely if democracy will survive in the country and also if the constitution will be followed.
“We need to work to protect democracy and the Indian Constitution. We should speak about problems faced in Karnataka, administration and about the development that has taken place in the state. Any work is not possible in the state without commission. We were a renowned state for governance, development and investment, but today, we are losing all the reputation due to a situation created by the BJP government.
“Today, everyone knows about the 40% commission situation here. I need not give the evidence. Letter by the contractors’ association alleging demand of commission by the government departments, commission in grants for schools and colleges and many more have been already sent to the Prime Minister, President, Governor and Lokayukta.
“Modi had said ‘Na Khaunga Na Khane Dunga’. Today, Modi and Shah are silent on corruption. They are busy using the government machinery like the CBI and ED gainst te opposition leaders. Modi is encouraging the ‘Khaane Vaale’.
“The government is not at all worried about the issue of unemployment. Today 2.70 lac jobs are vacant.
“Due to the 40% commission scene, is it possible to maintain the quality of infrastructure when 2 lac crore is allotted for development work out of 3 lac crore in state budget? When the BJP is involved in corruption, Modi is silent. He reacts only against other parties. We need to question the BJP about their contribution to the state.
“The Congress has always been in the forefront in development with several project. Modi questions what Congress has done in 70 years, but they seem to have forgotten the BJP’s term of 6 years. They forget Morarji Desai and I K Gujral. It is good if Modi takes some feedback before commenting.
“What has the double engine government done in 9 years? Due to 40% commission, the engine has derailed. Single engine means 40%. So does that mean double engine is 80%?
“The BJP has neglected education and investment, involved in corruption, and job vacancies are not filled. People have decided now that they do not need this government and decided to send them packing,” he said.
When asked the reason behind the delay in ticket announcement, Kharge said, “In the first list, we released 185 seats. Due to social engineering, we delayed the announcement of other seats.”
When queried about former Congress leader Mohiuddin Bava's allegation that D K Shivakumar sold the ticket, Kharge said, “I do not want to comment on it. When election tickets are denied, such allegations usually crop up.”
When asked about the BJP’s allegations that the Congress wants to make the state as an ‘ATM’, Kharge said, “The BJP are using money and muscle power, using government machinery for political benefits and exploiting them.”
Kharge further said, “We need a stable government. I urge the public to give us 150 seats. Even though we are robbed of two seats, we can sustain. As there is more poaching, we need to be cautious. The BJP pressurise our MLAs by using ED and CBI and threaten them. There is no freedom for the autonomous bodies.”
District Congress president Harish Kumar, sitting MLA U T Khader, Mangaluru South MLA candidate J R Lobo, Bantwal MLA candidate Ramanath Rai, MLC Manjunath Bhandary, and former MLC Ivan D’Souza were present.