Kharge takes exception to Dhankar giving caste angle to protest

NEW DELHI, December 22: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge today took strong exception to the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar trying to give caste colour to the issue of protest by the suspended Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs.

Without mentioning the Chairman’s name or position, Kharge, while addressing a protest dharna organized by the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) at the Jantar Mantar here today, said, he (the Chairman) was holding a constitutional position and still trying to give caste angle to an important issue.

“If you can speak like that while holding a constitutional position, what would be my plight while being a Dalit?” he asked the Chairman, without taking his name or mentioning his position.

Kharge pointed out, whenever he rises to speak in the parliament, he is always disrupted by the BJP members. Did I say that the BJP is not allowing a Dalit to speak, he asked.

The Congress president pointed out how the BJP government was trying to intimidate the opposition leaders by using the ED, CBI and the Income Tax. He reiterated that they will not be intimidated or threatened. He expressed confidence that the entire opposition was fighting this battle together.

Congress President also took a dig at Prime Minister Modi for claiming that he will win 400 seats in the next General Elections. He pointed out how Modi was rejected by the people of Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh despite travelling to every nook and corner and moving in every street. “People who elected you to power, also know how to throw you out”, he told Modi.