Thrissur: All-India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday accused the BJP-led Union government of undermining the principles of federalism by attempting to weaken the political autonomy of states and intervening in their governance.
The Congress president was addressing a mass rally ‘Mahajana Sabha’, organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) in Thrissur on Sunday, virtually kick-starting the party’s Lok Sabha election campaign in the state.
“The Modi government is not only harassing the state governments but is also crushing the poor people and women of the country. The Centre’s intervention in state governance and autonomous bodies, including interference by governors and attempts to reduce the political autonomy of states, undermines the principles of federalism,” said Kharge.
Kharge began his address by laying down the good deeds done by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He said the public sector institutes started by the Nehru government employed millions. “Nehru envisioned an economy in which the private and public sectors worked together. Backwards and Dalit communities have been able to come forward through employment. However, today, the Modi government is pampering the private sector.”
“Other sectors have been left to die a natural death. The government has the responsibility to bring back the public sector if it becomes weak. But Modi is busy destroying the public sector and strengthening the private sector. A few private capitalists are being pampered. Inflation is increasing day by day,” he said, adding that the Modi government’s policies have affected minorities and women most.
Representatives from 25,177 booths across the state, reportedly, attended the meeting. The KPCC organised the Mahajana Sabha to strengthen the party from the booth level. The meeting was presided over by KPCC president K Sudhakaran and attended by AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan, AICC general secretary in-charge of Kerala Deepa Dasmunshi and other senior leaders.