It's not so easy to defeat me in my Kalaburagi, says Mallikarjun Kharge

Kalaburagi: As he braces for a tough electoral battle in Kalaburagi in the Lok Sabha polls with the Bharatiya Janata Party set to pit Gurumitkal MLA Dr Umesh Jadhav against him, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge made it known to everyone that beating him was not going to be easy despite increasing discontent against him in the constituency.

“If I speak in the Lok Sabha, at least 500 MPs listen me attentively. Even (PM) Modi sits quietly listening to my words. That is the power I wield today and this power comes to me because the people of Kalaburagi have elected me. I am again seeking the blessings of the people to make the voice of Kalaburagi heard all over the nation,” said Mr Kharge after inaugurating the Kona Hipparga-Saraddagi (B) Bridge across the Bhima, which significantly reduces the distance between Kalaburagi and Vijayapura.

Referring to Modi's proposed visit to Kalaburagi on March 6, Mr Kharge chided people, especially youth for their “madness” for Mr Modi. “The youth chant Modi.. Modi...Modi. What is this? What has he done for the country? Has Mr Modi brought Independence for the country? Has anybody from the BJP or RSS made a sacrifice for the country's freedom? Has Mr Modi kept his word to remove corruption, bring back black money and deposit Rs 15 lakh in the bank accounts of people below the poverty line? How much employment has he created and how many villages have been provided with drinking water facility? Nothing. On the other hand, he declares the Congress has done little during the last fifty years. I want to tell Mr Modi that it's because of the Congress that democracy is alive in the country and a person like him could become PM,” he said.