Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led government at the Centre, calling US President Donald Trump a “dictator” and alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was acting like his “gulam” (slave).
Addressing a gathering after launching development projects worth ₹1,069 crore in Chittapur in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district, Kharge criticised the Centre’s stand on global issues, including the Middle East crisis, India’s trade deal with the United States and tariff policies.
Claiming that India had been forced into an unfavourable trade arrangement, Kharge said the country cannot impose tariffs on several agricultural imports from the US while American tariffs continue on Indian exports.
“Sixty-five per cent of our farmers depend on agriculture, while in America it is only three per cent. What will happen to our farmers? With friendship with such people, you are pushing the country towards slavery,” he alleged.
Kharge also accused the United States of arrogance and of violating international laws, while referring to tensions involving countries such as Iran and Venezuela. He warned that threatening or targeting leaders of sovereign nations could destabilise global peace.
Also read: PM Modi lacks the courage to answer Opposition questions: Kharge
The Congress chief further criticised the Centre’s energy policy, claiming that India earlier purchased crude oil from countries like Russia, Iran and Venezuela based on affordability but was now restricting purchases under pressure from the US.
Referring to reports of a temporary 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to buy Russian oil, Kharge said the development showed the extent of US influence.
“Trump is a dictator. Modi is his gulam. Will you accept such diktats?” he asked.
The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha also accused the prime minister of focusing more on election campaigning than governance, alleging that the government was diverting public attention from key issues.
He further claimed that India’s foreign policy under the present government had weakened the country’s global standing, contrasting it with the earlier Non-Aligned Movement era initiated under former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
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