HIGHLIGHTS | Mallikarjun Kharge in conversation with DH
Veteran Congress leader M Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi by not taking the Parliament and opposition leaders into confidence was damaging the very foundation of democracy.
In an interaction organised by Deccan Herald – Prajavani, Kharge said Modi rarely attended Parliament and during his replies to debates did not take questions or provide clarifications.
“Making just one speech towards the end of a discussion and walking out should not be the attitude of a leader. Modi is accountable to the parliament,” Kharge said and added that Modi remained aloof at top level parliamentary meetings.
“Such behaviour is uncalled for. This kind of arrogance comes when one thinks that everything is because of him. Such ego is eating away democratic principles,” he said.
Kharge occupies the Leader of the Opposition seat in Lok Sabha.
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Kharge said a prime minister should have foresightedness. “He had promised that Rs 80 lakh crore black money said to have been slashed abroad will be brought back and Rs 15 lakh will be credited into everybody’s account. What happened? Modi promised to create two crore jobs every year. Has he done so?” asked the veteran Congress leader.
Asked if All India Congress Committee President Rahul Gandhi will make a better prime minister, Kharge said, “Let’s give him a chance. We will show the result.” Kharge said Rahul Gandhi was travelling across the country and meeting people and interacting with all.
To a question whether he favoured Rahul or Congress General Secretary Priyanka Vadra (Rahul’s sister), Kharge said, “Rahul Gandhi is our President and our leader. We are all working to bring the party to the power under his leadership. Let us achieve this first. I agree that Priyanka is also a leader and she has joined us in our fight”.