"Work unitedly, high command will decide on CM and Ministers": Kharge tells Cong leaders
Kalaburgai, Dec 10: With just five months left for assembly polls in Karnataka, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday urged party leaders to unitedly face the election and clarified that the high command will decide as to who will become the Chief Minister and Ministers, after coming to power.
He also asked Congressmen and leaders to travel across the state and attract people towards the party, like the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi do.
"You should bring our government, the Congress should come to power. I'm today the AICC President, for my honour and that of my party you should ensure the Congress government in Karnataka. If we are in power, we will be able to work for the people and implement various pro public works. I'm confident you will give us strength," Kharge said.
Expressing surprise over keen interest and support for the BJP among some sections, he said, "still some people chant Prime Minister Narendra Modi's name."
"They are already making efforts to win Karnataka. So I urge all our leaders to go to villages, travel across the state and attract people towards our party, like BJP, Modi, Shah (Union Home Minister Amit Shah) and their Ministers do. My advice to all party men is to work together, if we don't do it, it's like betraying the people," he added.
The veteran leader, who is on a maiden visit to his home town of Kalaburagi, after taking over as the AICC chief, was addressing a mega gathering here.
Making it clear that the party high command will decide as to who will become the CM or Ministers, Kharge said, "if we fight among ourselves, we may lose what we may get. So all of us should unite."
Pointing to Congress' victory in the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls, he said, "... It should repeat in Karnataka also, everyone should join hands and march forward, my support is with you. I won't say that I don't want this person or that, whoever it may be, I want the Congress party and the Congress government here."
The AICC chief's strong call for unity has come as Congress seems to be faction ridden, especially with top two leaders-State President D K Shivakumar, Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah- nursing Chief Ministerial ambitions in the event of party coming to power, and are indulging in a game of political one-upmanship.
Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, were among several top party leaders present at the event.
Earlier, Kharge on his arrival was taken in a procession for four to five kilometres here.
Noting that the Congress has always been winning majority seats in Kalyana-Karnataka region, Kharge said, "I have come here as AICC President, I had never desired nor asked for it. Many times without asking I have got positions, which I have managed with your support and blessings."
He also recalled the role played by him and the Congress party in providing special status to the backward Hyderabad-Karnataka (now Kalyana-Karnataka) region during the UPA rule, by an amendment of Article 371(J) of the Constitution, aimed at providing more education and employment to the region.
Accusing the BJP government of doing injustice to the region by not filling up vacant posts amidst growing unemployment, he assured that the Congress on coming to power will fill all the vacancies not only in the Hyderabad- Karnataka region but in the entire state.
There are 30 lakh vacancies in public, semi government, aided, police and banking sectors, he added.
Referring to the 10-point programme prepared by the Congress for the Kalyana Karnataka region, the AICC chief said, "we are committed to provide Rs 5,000 crore for the development of the region, also- a new industrial policy, creation of 1 lakh posts, completion of irrigation works in Krishna and Godavari basin by announcing a special package.
A committee will be formed in every district in the region to monitor the implementation of the commitments made."
"Also, we will recommend to the Centre for setting up IIT, IIM and AIIMS in Kalyana Karnataka, also separate degree colleges for women in every assembly segment within 5 years, house for homeless in five years, more funds for gram panchayats aimed at strengthening them," he listed out.
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Bengal: On way to PM's rally, 3 mowed down by train amid dense fog
Kolkata (PTI): Three persons died and three others were injured after being hit by a train amid dense fog on Saturday, while travelling to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally at Taherpur in West Bengal's Nadia district, a senior official said.
The incident occurred between Taherpur and Badkulla railway stations under the Sealdah-Krishnanagar section of Eastern Railway, he said.
Modi, whose helicopter could not land at Taherpur due to dense fog and low visibility, condoled the death of the “BJP workers” in his virtual address from Kolkata airport.
“I have come to know that some BJP workers, while travelling to the rally, lost their lives in a rail accident. My condolences are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Modi said.
The Eastern Railway official told PTI that the incident occurred in the morning when these people, who were travelling by a bus, had stopped the vehicle and walked to the railway tracks to answer nature's call.
"While three persons died on the spot, two others with injuries were admitted to a local hospital," he said.
Another person with minor injuries was released after having been administered first aid, the official said.
The deceased have been identified as Ramprasad Ghosh (74), Shaktipada Sutradhar (55) and Gopinath Das (38).
Meanwhile, Mahua Moitra, Trinamool Congress MP from Krishnanagar constituency in Nadia district, alleged that the BJP ignored the incident and went ahead with the rally.
"Terrible tragedy hushed up at altar of @narendramodi ego. @BJP4India supporters brought from far Murshidabad for PM rally in Ranaghat today," she said in a post on X.
"4 went to answer nature's call and were killed by 31814 down local train near Taherpur. BJP ignored, blacked out & went ahead with rally," Moitra claimed.
Reacting to her remarks, the West Bengal BJP, in a post on X, asserted that the TMC "has always been adept at milking tragedies", and was being "disrespectful to the unfortunate victims of this tragedy".
The TMC alleged that BJP leaders have not shown "neither concern nor compassion" over the mishap.
"The loss of three lives in Taherpur should have united everyone in grief. But @BJP4India leaders showed neither concern nor compassion," it said in another post on X.
"At this painful moment, Smt @MamataOfficial and Shri @abhishekaitc put humanity above party lines and stood beside the families of the deceased," the party said.
TMC’s on-ground leaders promptly reached out to the grieving family members, ensuring them of help and assistance, it said.
"While Delhi’s rulers chase Bengal with arrogance, our leadership chose empathy. This is the difference between politics of power and politics of people!" the TMC added.
