Congress party leader in Lok Sabha M Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday advised members of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to organise a block-level workers’ meet across the state.
Addressing the party workers at the block-level Congress representatives’ meet of Mangaluru South Assembly constituency, at the Town Hall, Kharge categorically told KPCC Working President Dinesh Gundurao, who was also on the dais, to lap up the initiative and hold similar conventions in every block, for it was the way to counter BJP in the state.
He also complimented Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo for devising the programme. Kharge said, “People who are under the influence of saffron party should be educated about the contributions of Congress. It is inevitable as the rival party is marketing itself in such a way that they claim to have done a lot even for a minimal work.”
Referring to the frequently-made comment by Prime Minister Narendra Modi questioning the contributions of the Congress party in the past, Kharge said, “Democracy was the biggest contribution of the good old party, on the citadel of which even Modi and Amit Shah could ascend the seat of power.”
Launching a tirade against Modi, Kharge cited the volley of promises made by Modi to bring back black money stashed abroad and creation of employment opportunities among others. Although the price of crude oil has come down, helping the Centre save Rs 1.80,000 cr, the common man has not benefited, he added.
Kharge termed the Centre’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan as ‘Haath mein jhaadu, sir pe kachda’ (broom in hand and waste on head).
He also questioned the rationale behind RSS and BJP’s ‘sudden love’ for Dr B R Ambedkar, while it was the Congress party that had given a due preference to the champion of dalits by inducting him into the cabinet of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Kharge also recalled his association with undivided Dakshina Kannada district ever since he became an MLA in the year 1972.
He also credited then MP Srinivas Mallya for striving for the improvement in basic infrastructural facilities, especially roads and bridges, in the same district.
Kharge, who earlier unveiled the plaque of the newly named Blasius M D’Souza road at Karavali Circle at Kankanady, said, “It was not just an honour for D’Souza, but also for the party workers.”
KPCC Working President Dinesh Gundurao who spoke on the contributions of Congress government in the last three years, said, “The government aims to spend Rs 60,000 crore for the welfare of SC, ST under special component plan (SCP) and tribal sub-plan (TSP). The state is second in production of milk in the country, and the agriculture produce market committees (APMCs) are being modernised, also considered as a model programme in the country and is set to be replicated in the nation.”
Energy Minister D K Shivakumar reminded the party workers that, whenever Congress has gained a foothold in the coastal region, the party has ascended seat of power in the State. “It is only Nehru family that can keep the party united, for the sacrifices made by them for the sake of the organisation,” he added.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary Shantharam Naik released books on ‘Nehru and Ambedkar’, brought out to inculcate the principles propagated by the duo among the party workers workshop.
Rajya Sabha Member Oscar Fernandes was felicitated along with his wife Blossom, upon his recent election from Karnataka. Fernandes who was a Lok Sabha member for five terms, is serving his fourth term at the Upper House of the Parliament.
Published 16 July 2016, 18:21 IST