Democracy would’ve ended if we followed BJP: Kharge
Participating in the debate on the noconfidence motion, the Congress leader accuses the government of working against the ideals of BR Ambedkar
NEWDELHI: Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday accused the Narendra Modi government of adopting a “divide and rule policy” by attempting to break society, crushing freedom of speech and pushing the people into inequality.
Participating in the debate on the no-confidence motion, Kharge said the Modi government, which claims it has electrified 18,000 villages, should answer as to who electrified the 6.23 lakh villages before it came to power in 2014.
“If we had followed your (BJP’s) example, then democracy would have come to an end. Was there no electricity produced in the last 70 years? Then who electrified 6.1 lakh villages out of 6.23 lakh villages?” he asked.
“I was wondering what the Modi government did in the past 4 years and four months. Home minister Rajnath Singh gave us lessons on history. You should tell us what you have done in the past four years.”
Kharge accused the government of working against the ideals of BR Ambedkar, saying it has not yet come out with a “small amendment” to the Lokpal Act to make the leader of the largest opposition party a member of the selection committee.
“You do not have a large heart but talk big about democracy,” he said, maintaining that he did not attend the previous meetings of the selection panel as he was invited as a special invitee.
“You could not bring an amendment or ordinance to include member of largest opposition party. You can bring 6-7 ordinances for other issues. If I call you as special invitee, will you come?” he asked.
Kharge alleged that the Modi government did not fulfil the promises made to Andhra Pradesh at the time of bifurcation of the state.
The government did not accord Andhra Pradesh the special category status as was promised, he said, adding the BJP and Modi government were indulging in the policy of divide and rule.
Kharge said the number of farmer suicides have increased over the years notwithstanding the promise of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.
He wondered if the ₹ 80 lakh crore of black money parked in Swiss banks would be brought back to the country, and asked when the government will deposit ₹15 lakh in the people’s account and when two crore jobs per year will be generated.
“Good days have not come... now people think that good days will come when Modiji will go. The government has only shown the citizens Mungerilal ke haseen sapne pipe dream).”
Attacking the government, Kharge said, “The manner in which you are trying to break the society, freedom of speech crushed, pushing people into inequality, you cannot save democracy in this manner.”
“You have to appreciate Congress’ contribution in saving democracy. Your RSS-based ideology is against Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s ideology. The government is good at instigating and they try to divide and rule,” he said.