Pinarayi is Kerala’s Modi: Kharge

Idukki: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack against the LDF govt in Kerala and the BJP-led central govt. Speaking at a public gathering held at Elappara as part of the election campaign for UDF candidate Syriac Thomas in Peermade constituency, Kharge mocked that chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is the "Narendra Modi of Kerala". He expressed serious concern over the state's financial crisis, alleging that the sharp rise in Kerala's debt reflects a failure of governance. He said the collapse of social security schemes is pushing the state towards insecurity, and that the crisis in the education sector is forcing youth to migrate abroad in search of jobs. He alleged that Kerala's atmosphere of peace has been disturbed. Kharge claimed that there is a secret understanding between BJP and LDF to weaken the Congress. He said Modi and Pinarayi are "two sides of the same coin", both attempting to centralize power. While the BJP is dividing the country on communal lines, he alleged that the CPM is implementing a similar agenda in Kerala.Referring to amendments to Waqf laws, Kharge said even the Christian community now fears that their rights could be taken away. Such legal changes, he added, are not reforms but intrusions on the rights of the general public. He also outlined key promises of the UDF for plantation workers and farmers, including raising the rubber support price to Rs 300 and granting land titles if the UDF comes to power. He promised a permanent solution to human-wildlife conflict and better healthcare facilities for common people.Kharge said Modi's promise of creating two crore jobs annually was a "major deception", and claimed that India saw its highest economic growth during the tenure of Manmohan Singh. He added that the Congress party's "Indira Guarantee" schemes would transform millions of lives.