Taking serious exceptions to Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde’s remarks on politicians, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha M. Mallikarjun Kharge has said that Mr. Hegde’s “tongue speaks volumes of his culture”. He was speaking to presspersons at his residence here on Thursday.
Mr. Hegde, obliquely referring to Congress leaders from Hyderabad Karnataka region, had, in a public meeting in Kalaburagi on Wednesday, said that those who were engaging themselves in laying foundation stones for government buildings and roads instead of enhancing skills among youth to create a brighter India were ineligible to become political leaders.
“Mr. Hegde needs to learn decent culture from this region [Hyderabad Karnataka]. Only those who don’t have culture can speak irresponsibly. His words speak volumes about the culture of the RSS [Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh] that claims to be disciplined and cultured,” he said. He also questioned the contribution of the Union government led by BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] to the development of Hyderabad Karnataka region.
“He [Mr. Hegde] endlessly speaks of skill development. How many sill development centres has he, as a Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, established in Hyderabad Karnataka? During the UPA [United Progressive Alliance] government, we established hundreds of skill development centres across the country, including Kalaburagi. Let him say what his party has done for this backward region,” Mr. Kharge said.
Terming the BJP as anti-Hyderabad Karnataka region, the senior Congressman said that the BJP had vehemently opposed providing special status to the region through a Constitutional amendment. “When the Congress demanded to amend Article 370 for inserting Clause J for providing special status to the region, the BJP rejected it. We did it when we came to power,” he said.
