KALABURAGI: “He (Srinivas Prasad) has the right to speak, let him speak whatever he likes”, was the reaction of Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge to the statement against him by senior Congress leader Srinivas Prasad, who resigned as MLA and also from the primary membership of Congress in protest against his dropping from the Cabinet.
Mr Kharge was in Yadgir town to chair a district level vigilance committee meeting and initially declined to be drawn into the controversy. When reporters pointed out that Mr Prasad had accused him of being part of the six-member coterie running the affiars of the party in the state, Mr Kharge tersely remarked, “I don’t want to comment… he has the right to speak, let him say whatever he wants”.
Asked whether he had discussed with the high command the situation arising out of Prasad’s resignation, a glum looking Kharge reacted, “it’s an issue concerning the chief minister, I have not discussed it with the high command”.
Asked about the the comments by Prasad that he was “sacrificed” for the sake of inducting Priyank Kharge into the ministry, an irritated Kharge replied, “When I said I don’t want to react, it’s the end of the discussion … the CM will respond to all the statements (of Mr Prasad)”.
