'Chronology samjhiye': Congress's jibe at Centre over PM's Covid meeting
New Delhi, Dec 22: "Understand the chronology," the Congress said on Thursday as it pointed out that the health minister has written to party leader Rahul Gandhi over COVID-19 concerns and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reviewing the virus-related situation just days before the "Bharat Jodo Yatra" enters Delhi.
The opposition party alleged that the Modi government "suddenly agreed" to adjourn Parliament sine die on Friday so that its use of Covid to "defame and derail" the Bharat Jodo Yatra, a foot march being led by Gandhi, acquires a shade of respectability.
The Congress's attack came on a day the prime minister reviewed the Covid situation in the country at a high-level meeting.
In a tweet, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said: "4 cases of Omicron sub-variant driving Chinese surge were reported in Gujarat and Odisha in July, September and November."
"Health Minister writes a letter to Rahul Gandhi yesterday. PM is reviewing situation today. Bharat Jodo Yatra will enter Delhi day after. Ab Aap Chronology Samjhiye.... (now, understand the chronology)," he said.
In a subsequent tweet, Ramesh said Parliament will adjourn sine die on Friday and noted that this was a demand raised by the opposition parties long ago since there were not too many bills that were to be passed in the winter session.
"Modi government which never listens, suddenly agreed so that its use of Covid-19 to defame and derail Bharat Jodo Yatra acquires a shade of respectability," he alleged.
"Now, will the Modi govt make masks and sanitisers compulsory, curtail international flights and ban public gatherings? The Bharat Jodo Yatra will abide by a science-based and medical evidence-based protocol," Ramesh asserted.
Accusing the government of selectively picking on the Bharat Jodo Yatra over Covid concerns, the Congress had, on Wednesday, pointed out that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was organising marches in Karnataka and Rajasthan, and asserted that public health is far too serious an issue to play party politics on.
Citing the concerns raised by three BJP MPs over the spread of the coronavirus, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has urged Gandhi to consider suspending the Bharat Jodo Yatra if Covid protocols cannot be adhered to.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Haryana from Rajasthan on Wednesday.
A mass contact initiative of the Congress, the yatra started from Kanyakumari on September 7 and has covered Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
It is slated to enter Delhi on December 24 and after a break of nine days, move on to Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and finally, Jammu and Kashmir.
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Kharge has put 'full stop' to leadership speculation in Karnataka: Minister Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge has put a "full stop" on the issue of leadership change in the state.
Kharge's statement has a lot of significance and there ends the matter for now. Everyone in the party should respect and accept this, he said.
Parameshwara was referring to Kharge's statement on Thursday that there was no chief minister change in Karnataka "for now" and that the leadership issue in the state will be resolved soon.
Kharge's statement came amid speculation within the party and political circles about a possible decision on leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, once the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in Karnataka, are announced.
"Mallikarjun Kharge is our party's national president. He has a lot of experience. Several people, including me, have said that in the case of change (in leadership), if he (Kharge) comes (as CM), no one could speak in front of his experience and everyone would accept it. While replying to it, Kharge said that there is a chief minister now, and there is no question of change as of now," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "I welcome his (Kharge) statement because I feel he has expressed his opinion after a discussion involving him, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala (both AICC general secretaries). I may be right or wrong. I feel that his statement has a lot of significance. So that matter ends there for now."
Responding to a question on repeated statements by several party leaders regarding leadership change, the home minister said, what the AICC chief has said on the matter is final. It should be respected and accepted by all in the party. There is no meaning in interpreting it further.
"I cannot respond to what others say, but I can say my opinion. In my opinion, the AICC chief is the supreme authority in the party. He, along with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, are our high command. If the high command has said something, we should both respect and accept it. There ends the matter," he said.
Kharge has put a "full stop" on the issue, he further said, adding that, "When he has said there is no change. It is a full stop."
Responding to a question on Parameshwara's recent statement about Kharge becoming chief minister, the AICC chief on Thursday said, "You (media), he (Parameshwara), and people at the top say that it is better if I become CM. But more than fate, as per my ideology and my service to the party so far, Sonia Gandhi makes decisions regarding me."
He had further said, "But that question does not arise now. There is already a CM here. If Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and I together have to take any decision in that direction, it will take some time. Let's wait and see."
Kharge on Friday too said no date has been fixed yet to discuss a possible leadership change in Karnataka.
Supporters of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar have been insisting on his elevation in line with a reported power-sharing agreement with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah when the party won the 2023 Assembly elections. Some have even claimed that "sweet news" is expected by May 15, which is Shivakumar's birthday.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.
The speculation has been fuelled by a reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
