Kharge slams Modi: visit 42 nations, not Manipur.
- Kharge emphasized that Manipur is a vital and sensitive region of the country.
- He questioned the Prime Minister’s priorities, highlighting the lack of attention towards the conflict-hit northeastern state.
- Kharge noted that Rahul Gandhi, as the Leader of the Opposition, visited Manipur and met with affected people.
- He urged the government to show seriousness and compassion towards the ongoing crisis in Manipur.
- “India includes Manipur too,” Kharge said pointedly.
Kharge Slams PM Modi Over Manipur, Foreign Policy, and Governance Failures
Hyderabad: In a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday questioned the PM’s priorities, highlighting his failure to visit Manipur despite touring 42 countries. Addressing village-level Congress unit leaders at the LB Stadium in Telangana, Kharge criticized Modi for being silent on key national and international issues while remaining focused on image-building exercises abroad.
“The Prime Minister has travelled to 42 countries, hugged world leaders, and showcased himself, but he does not have the time to visit Manipur, where people are crying, dying, and suffering due to violence, displacement, and rape,” Kharge said. “Are the people of Manipur not citizens of India?” he asked pointedly.
Emphasizing Manipur’s strategic and cultural importance, Kharge reminded the gathering that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had visited the conflict-torn state, met with victims, and listened to their pain. “Modi should first meet his own people before hugging foreign dignitaries,” he remarked.
Kharge also questioned Modi’s silence on former U.S “If Trump claims he stopped the war, why is Modi quiet? As the Prime Minister of a sovereign nation, he should have said — ‘We don’t need Trump. India is strong enough to defend itself’.”
Drawing historical comparisons, Kharge hailed former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for her decisive action during the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh. “Indira Gandhi split Pakistan into two. What has Modi done in comparison? He only makes tall claims without delivery,” he said.
Kharge also called out Modi for not convening or attending all-party meetings in a sincere manner. He cited the recent Pahalgam terror attack as an example, saying the Prime Minister called a meeting only under pressure from the Congress, and did not even care to meet Opposition leaders personally after sending them abroad to defend India’s position.
Shifting focus to the BJP and RSS, Kharge posed a strong question: “Has anyone from the RSS or BJP ever laid down their life for the country?” He recalled the sacrifices of Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi, asserting that Congress leaders had given their lives for India’s unity and democracy, unlike the BJP, which, according to him, had no legacy of struggle. “They never fought for the nation’s freedom. They only know how to apologise,” he said, alluding to past instances of political compromise.
The Congress president also condemned the Modi government’s foreign policy, alleging that under its watch, India has become diplomatically isolated and surrounded by hostile neighbors. “Instead of building strong regional partnerships, this government has weakened India’s standing. Enemies are on all sides, and our position is weakened.”
On domestic policy, Kharge accused the BJP of ruining the economy, destabilizing law and order, and failing to fulfill its promises over the past 11 years. In contrast, he praised the Congress government in Telangana for delivering on its commitments. “We have not only promised — we have implemented schemes for farmers, women, and workers,” he said.
Highlighting the pro-people initiatives of the Telangana Congress, Kharge said that legislation had been drafted to benefit 4.5 lakh gig workers. He also commended the state for conducting a comprehensive caste survey, positioning Telangana as a model for inclusive governance.
Kharge urged Congress workers to take pride in their efforts, acknowledging their role in the party’s resurgence in the state.
He promised to continue fighting for the Centre’s approval of the Bill passed by the Telangana Assembly to raise reservations for backward classes to 42 percent.
In closing, Kharge called on party workers to spread the message of unity, equality, and democracy.