Contest with Tharoor is for betterment of country and Congress: Mallikarjun Kharge
Srinagar (PTI): Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said his contest with Shashi Tharoor for the post of party president was aimed at putting forth their viewpoints for the betterment of the country and the party.
Kharge said this during an interaction with party delegates at Congress office here, where he sought their support for the AICC presidential election.
This is an internal election. It is like two brothers at home, who are not fighting, but placing their points of view and trying to persuade each other, he said.
The Congress party veteran said the election campaign was not about what a particular candidate will do if he becomes the president of the party, but what they can do together.
My belief is... What I will do is not the question. The question is what we both will do together for the country and for the party, this is important.
Let us not talk about whether I will do this or that, or talk about someone else. How will you (party workers) and me together make the party stronger, save the country's constitution and its democracy, that is the question.
"Today, the country's atmosphere is deteriorating and we have to make it stronger through peace and unity. That is why Bharat Jodo yatra is on, he said.
Kharge, 80, said he would implement the Udaipur declaration of the party if he gets elected.
If I get an opportunity, then I will try to fully implement the Udaipur declaration, because you have made the declaration after deliberations and placed a few things before the party, the country. I will try to take that forward and will take you along.
It is important to take everyone along. I will take everyone's advice and find solutions to the problems by discussing with PCCs and others It is collective leadership, he added.
Appealing to the delegates to support his candidature, the former leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha said there was no pressure on anyone and whoever was supporting him, was doing so happily.
He also said Rahul Gandhi was the only option if the party has to become stronger and powerful.
When I met Madam (Sonia) Gandhi, I told her if the party has to become stronger and powerful, then there is no option other than Rahul Gandhi because he fights on the roads, in the Parliament, and now he has vowed to walk 3500 km and he has walked three states.
It is his commitment. He is walking on the roads and not taking decisions in an AC chamber. Thousands and lakhs of people are joining. This Bharat Jodo yatra is about uniting the thinking of the people of the country and not about dividing them, he said.
Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's charge that the Congress only talks about dividing the country, Kharge said if the country is prospering today, it is because of the Congress party.
Our leaders have given so much to the country, he said.
Kharge said it was Shah's habit to talk about dividing the country and not uniting it everywhere he goes.
We talk about uniting the country, uniting the society, getting everyone together and saving the constitution so that the country functions as a democracy. We believe in that and we are working for that, he said.
He also asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah helped in getting the country its independence.
They were not even born then. Congress party leaders like Mahatma Gandhi fought for it. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru spent nine years in jail for uniting the country. Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives. What sacrifice have you given for the country? he asked.
If nothing has been done in these 70 years, then would there be many AIIMS, so many doctors and engineers or so much public sector work? They do nothing, but only sloganeering, dividing the people is their aim and they are doing that. But, we will continue to fight that, the Congress leader said.
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IPL final shifted for bigger stadium, not ticket issue: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday rubbished allegations that the IPL final venue was shifted from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad due to the distribution of tickets to MLAs.
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said the reason for the shift could be the availability of a larger stadium in Ahmedabad.
“Ahmedabad has a large stadium and can accommodate more spectators. That must be the reason the IPL final was shifted there. There is no connection between ticket distribution to MLAs and the venue change,” he said.
When asked about reports linking the venue shift to MLAs demanding tickets, he quipped, “In some places, 50 per cent of tickets are reserved.”
When reporters said the BCCI had indicated that the decision was linked to ticket issues, he responded, “Let them make such statements. I will respond appropriately.”
Bengaluru was originally expected to host the final as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru were the defending champions.
Ahmedabad will host the IPL final for a second successive season on May 31, the BCCI announced earlier in the day, while allotting Qualifier 1 to Dharamsala and two other playoff games to New Chandigarh.
The board, however, said the final venue was shifted “owing to certain requirements from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope of BCCI’s established guidelines and protocols.”
Shivakumar declined to comment on the revocation of the suspension of Muslim leaders in Davanagere, saying it was a party decision.
Regarding the removal of MLC Naseer Ahmed as CM Siddaramaiah’s political secretary, he said the chief minister had already spoken on the matter.
“The CM has his own information. Party office-bearers have provided guidance. He was given certain responsibilities, which he did not handle properly, which is why he was removed,” Shivakumar said.
On MLC Abdul Jabbar, who resigned as the state Congress minority cell chief and was later expelled from the party, he said Jabbar had submitted his resignation, which the party accepted.
The Congress in Karnataka faced internal dissent in April when several Muslim leaders objected to the party fielding Samarth Shamanur as its candidate for the recently held Davanagere South Assembly bypoll.
They demanded that a Muslim candidate be fielded, citing the constituency’s substantial Muslim population. The party subsequently took disciplinary action against three leaders, including Jabbar and MLC Ahmed.
When asked about his and the CM’s visit to Delhi, he said, “We will go when the high command calls us. It is not appropriate to go without being called.”
On Congress supporting TVK in Tamil Nadu, Shivakumar said the decision was taken to keep the "BJP out of power and strengthen secular forces." Elections to the 234 Assembly constituencies were held on April 23, and the results were announced on May 4.
The Congress party, a long-time ally of the DMK, announced its support for TVK to form a government in Tamil Nadu and severed ties with the Dravidian major.
The incumbent DMK was trounced by the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by Vijay, who secured 108 seats. “Despite pressure from the AIADMK and BJP, TVK did not align with them. Our party has taken this decision in the interest of secular forces and the welfare of Tamil Nadu,” Shivakumar said.
