NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun
Kharge on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led NDA government, alleging that India's foreign policy under
PM Modi is flawed and has led to deteriorating ties with neighbouring countries.
Speaking at the 'Samajika Nyaya Samara Bheri' event in Hyderabad, Kharge said, “His foreign policy is not good, because of which we have enemies from all corners. On one side, there is China and on the other, Pakistan. Today, Nepal is also distancing itself from us. Everybody is moving away from us.”
The Congress chief said that despite visiting 42 countries, PM Modi has not visited Manipur, where ethnic violence has led to loss of life. “He has travelled to 42 countries in the world, but so far he has not visited Manipur, where people are dying,” Kharge said.
He accused PM Modi of neglecting domestic issues in favour of international appearances. “Modi ji, where are you? He is visiting eight countries, but he’s not looking towards his country's people. He is not looking at the farmers of this country,” he added.
Kharge also alleged that the government under PM Modi has harmed the
Indian economy over the last 11 years and undermined the Constitution. “He has ruined the country’s economy and destroyed the Constitution,” he said.
He further mocked the prime minister, saying, “If someone gives Modi a cap or a medal he will wear it and go around,” urging that the focus should instead be on the welfare of farmers and the common people.
Additionally, in a sharp attack on the RSS and BJP, Kharge referred to recent comments attributed to an RSS functionary suggesting the removal of the words ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ from the Constitution.
“I challenge them – be it him, their BJP, PM Modi or Amit Shah – no one can remove those words,” Kharge said.
During his address in Hindi, he said: “I heard that an RSS leader from Shimoga said that the words ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ should be removed from the Constitution. I challenge all of them – BJP, PM Modi, Amit Shah – no one can do it.”
Reading from the BJP’s own organisational constitution, Kharge pointed out that the party’s own document states allegiance to the principles of socialism, secularism and democracy.
“If you hate secularism and socialism so much, why have you written it in your party’s Constitution?” he asked. “Your own party constitution says the BJP shall bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India and to the principles of socialism, secularism and democracy. Then why are you trying to remove these values now?”
Kharge also cited past Indo-Pak conflicts while criticising the current government's posture.
He said: “You talk big about Pakistan. We helped them in the past. Then why did you back away? You say you ended the war between India and Pakistan. You say you calmed things down. Then why are you silent now, Prime Minister? Speak up. There is no need for Trump in India. We are strong, and we are ready to fight – just as Indira Gandhi once split Pakistan and created Bangladesh.”
He urged PM Modi to stop misleading the people and to act decisively if the country’s interests are at stake.
“If you had to act, you were in power, you could have. Don’t mislead the country. Don’t confuse the people,” he said.