<p>Gadag: Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday took a sharp dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the BJP-led central government of failing to introduce any original development programmes over the past 11 years. “Modi has merely renamed schemes launched during the UPA government’s tenure to mislead the people of the country,” he said.</p><p>He was speaking at the ‘Yuva Dhwani’ convention in Gadag on Saturday. Kharge said, “The government at the centre is nothing but an ‘RRR government’-- Rename, Repackage, Re-launch. Schemes like Digital India, Skill India, Swachh Bharat, and Health Insurance, which the BJP touts as their achievements, were all conceptualised and launched during the UPA regime,” he said.</p><p>He ridiculed the BJP’s portrayal of pre-2014 India, saying, “It’s as if the people of India were living in caves without any amenities before Modi became Prime Minister. Despite introducing nothing new, Modi comes up with a fresh slogan every six months.”</p><p>Kharge also challenged the credibility of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, saying, “I still do not understand what Atmanirbhar Bharat actually means. If they can show me even one functioning smart city in the country, I will resign.”</p><p><strong>Poor diplomatic ties</strong></p><p>Continuing his attack, Kharge claimed, “Prime Minister Modi identifies himself as a brand. Depending on the occasion, he portrays himself as a chaiwala (tea seller), pradhan sevak (chief servant), chowkidar (watchman), Hindu Hriday Samrat (Emperor of Hindu Hearts), Iron Man and now, a Vishwaguru. But during the conflict between India and Pakistan, not a single nation stood by India. This reflects the poor diplomatic ties maintained by Modi’s government.”</p><p>He said, “Over the past 11 years, the word ‘anti-national’ has repeatedly echoed in our ears. </p><p>“If anyone speaks against the ideology of the BJP or the RSS and their leaders, they are labelled as anti-national. Their contribution to the freedom struggle, the wars that followed, and the nation-building process is zero. They call Godse a patriot. If that is so, then who is Gandhi?” he questioned.</p><p>He further added, “For the BJP, Savarkar is the ideological guru. When I asked in the Assembly who conferred upon him the title ‘Veer’, BJP members attacked me and called me anti-national. The truth is, Savarkar gave that title to himself.”</p><p>Kharge also raised historical facts, saying, “The Cellular Jail in Andaman had 698 cells and operated for 33 years. Over 80,000 freedom fighters were imprisoned there, and only three wrote mercy petitions. </p><p>“One of them was Savarkar, who did so six times. He even accepted a British pension of Rs 60 per month for 18 years. When these facts are questioned, they label us as traitors,” he added.</p>
<p>Gadag: Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday took a sharp dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the BJP-led central government of failing to introduce any original development programmes over the past 11 years. “Modi has merely renamed schemes launched during the UPA government’s tenure to mislead the people of the country,” he said.</p><p>He was speaking at the ‘Yuva Dhwani’ convention in Gadag on Saturday. Kharge said, “The government at the centre is nothing but an ‘RRR government’-- Rename, Repackage, Re-launch. Schemes like Digital India, Skill India, Swachh Bharat, and Health Insurance, which the BJP touts as their achievements, were all conceptualised and launched during the UPA regime,” he said.</p><p>He ridiculed the BJP’s portrayal of pre-2014 India, saying, “It’s as if the people of India were living in caves without any amenities before Modi became Prime Minister. Despite introducing nothing new, Modi comes up with a fresh slogan every six months.”</p><p>Kharge also challenged the credibility of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, saying, “I still do not understand what Atmanirbhar Bharat actually means. If they can show me even one functioning smart city in the country, I will resign.”</p><p><strong>Poor diplomatic ties</strong></p><p>Continuing his attack, Kharge claimed, “Prime Minister Modi identifies himself as a brand. Depending on the occasion, he portrays himself as a chaiwala (tea seller), pradhan sevak (chief servant), chowkidar (watchman), Hindu Hriday Samrat (Emperor of Hindu Hearts), Iron Man and now, a Vishwaguru. But during the conflict between India and Pakistan, not a single nation stood by India. This reflects the poor diplomatic ties maintained by Modi’s government.”</p><p>He said, “Over the past 11 years, the word ‘anti-national’ has repeatedly echoed in our ears. </p><p>“If anyone speaks against the ideology of the BJP or the RSS and their leaders, they are labelled as anti-national. Their contribution to the freedom struggle, the wars that followed, and the nation-building process is zero. They call Godse a patriot. If that is so, then who is Gandhi?” he questioned.</p><p>He further added, “For the BJP, Savarkar is the ideological guru. When I asked in the Assembly who conferred upon him the title ‘Veer’, BJP members attacked me and called me anti-national. The truth is, Savarkar gave that title to himself.”</p><p>Kharge also raised historical facts, saying, “The Cellular Jail in Andaman had 698 cells and operated for 33 years. Over 80,000 freedom fighters were imprisoned there, and only three wrote mercy petitions. </p><p>“One of them was Savarkar, who did so six times. He even accepted a British pension of Rs 60 per month for 18 years. When these facts are questioned, they label us as traitors,” he added.</p>
