‘Modi destroying India, Trump the world; both call themselves good friends’, claims Kharge

Bengaluru (PTI): Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday claimed the two leaders, who call themselves "good friends," were destroying their respective domains—one, the country, the other the world.

Targeting the BJP over allegations of embezzlement of funds linked to the Ram Temple trust in Ayodhya, he claimed there was "loot" in the name of religion.

Kharge attacked the Modi government over the conduct of the NEET examination, accusing it of "betraying" students and parents, and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

He was addressing a mega convention here where B K Hariprasad assumed charge as Karnataka Congress president.

"Modi is destroying the country. Trump is destroying the whole world. Both of them call themselves good friends. Both good friends—you are bringing a bad name to the country, and people are suffering because of both of you," Kharge claimed.

Blaming Trump for rising fuel prices, he claimed, "India followed a policy of non-alignment since Nehru's time and maintained good relations with all countries. But that policy has been abandoned, and Modi, by going around calling everyone his friend and hugging them, has brought us to this situation."

"We (Congress workers) should keep in mind which government will be beneficial for the country and its people. We should inform people about it. Go to the people and make them understand what is happening," he said, calling on Congress workers to strengthen the party without compromising its core values and ideology.

Noting that donations and materials were collected for the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya following L K Advani's Rath Yatra, Kharge alleged that no proper account had been given of those collections and claimed there were now reports of financial irregularities linked to the temple.

"There are reports that about Rs 5,000 crore has been misused. The priests are robbing the money. Ram naam japna, paraya maal apna (chant the name of Ram and make someone else's property your own). A loot has happened in the name of Ram. The temple was constructed to loot crores of rupees," he alleged.

Pointing out that the Ram Mandir was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi, Kharge said that temples are usually inaugurated by swamijis and seers, but in this case, the PM had inaugurated it himself.

"The money from the donation boxes of temples is going somewhere. Whether his own people are behind it or someone else, it should be investigated," he said.

Reacting to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's appeal to the public to wait 15 days for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to complete its probe into allegations of financial irregularities and missing donations at the Ram Mandir, Kharge said: "Why do you need 15 days when God is with you, the temple is with you, Modi is with you, and you are the CM? Put those who have looted in the name of Ram behind bars."

"People voted in the name of God, the Ram Mandir and religion. But are these people protecting religion? There is loot in the name of religion, and the poor are being oppressed in the name of religion," he added.

Referring to controversies surrounding the conduct of the NEET examination, Kharge alleged that mismanagement had undermined the credibility of the process and reiterated Rahul Gandhi's demand for Pradhan's resignation.

"They are unable to conduct examinations properly. Students and parents have been betrayed by the BJP and Pradhan. He has to resign," he said.

Kharge suggested that Karnataka's CET model be examined and that Class 12 (PUC) marks also be considered along with NEET scores to ensure fairness to students.

Attacking the Modi-led government over inflation and unemployment, Kharge alleged that it was interested in concentrating power in the hands of a few people while neglecting the poor.

"This Modi government will fall one day, wait and watch. A big trouble is coming for Modi, wait and watch. They are not doing anything properly to help people, whether workers, women or students," he claimed.

The education system and syllabus are being changed in a manner that misguides students, he further alleged. RSS members are being placed in key positions, and teachers and vice-chancellors with RSS backgrounds are being appointed, he claimed.

"They are doing it to retain political control," he said.

Asserting that Congress should fight those who undermine or disregard the Constitution, Kharge said others did not value it because they were already privileged.

"The Constitution is needed for the poor and the downtrodden to protect their rights," he added.