Mallikarjun Kharge’s jibe at distressed farmer draws Opposition's ire

Slamming Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over a viral video purportedly showing his interaction with a distressed farmer in Kalaburagi, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said the top Congress leader’s conduct is proof of the traditional arrogance. 

The clip, which has circulated widely on social media, captures Kharge’s conversation with a farmer whose crops were damaged by recent floods in the region.

In the video, Kharge is seen accusing the farmer of seeking publicity and questioning him how many acres did he sow. When the farmer replies that he has grown crops in four acres, Kharge retorts “I have also grown crops in 40 acres and mine has been damaged worse than you. I am well aware of the crop loss. This is like the saying that one who has delivered three kids, expressing her struggle before a person who delivered six kids”. 

Kharge also asked the farmer to approach the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the compensation of crop loss.

Terming the Kharge’s reaction as an insult to the distressed farmers, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra said that this shows carelessness of Kharge towards the farmers. In the post on ‘X’, the BJP leader said that Kharge’s attitude has reduced his dignity of a long political experience and seniority. 

“Congress never did anything to lift the farmers out of their difficult situation after Independence. The party has shed crocodile tears over the poor farmers. The way AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge behaved on Sunday has provided evidence to it”, he stated. 

JD(S) has also accused Kharge of being arrogant and charged that Congress leaders care about the farmers only in their speeches. “DCM D K Shivakumar had earlier threatened the farmers protesting in Ramanagara like a rowdy. Now, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge has shown his arrogant attitude towards the poor farmer who has lost his crop”, the party said.  

Criticising the Congress leader on ‘X’, Kumaraswamy said, “Respected Mallikarjun Kharge avare, I was deeply disappointed by your behaviour towards the farmers. From a senior leader, I certainly did not expect such conduct. If a farmer in distress cannot approach you and share his pain, then who else should he turn to? You are the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and the President of the AICC. Yet, you completely forgot these
responsibilities while speaking!”

The JD (S) leader added, “You too may be a toor dal farmer, but how can there be any comparison between a person like you cultivating 40 acres and a poor farmer cultivating just one or two acres? You have the capacity to bear the loss. Shouldn’t the farmer be given that same strength?”

 “Kharge avare, what was the need to say such words? A senior leader should set an example. Instead, you insulted the farmer, and along with him, you insulted his mother! This is unacceptable. At the very least, you could have consoled him and wiped away his tears.”

Kumaraswamy said, “Your conduct is proof of the traditional arrogance and ego of the @INCIndia party. #CongressFailsKarnataka @kharge.”