Democracy would be destroyed if BJP keeps bringing down elected govts: Kharge on HP RS poll result
If they continue to do this, they will end democracy and demolish democracy and put the Constitution aside, the Congress president said, adding this cannot continue like this in the country.Asked about longtime Congress leaders such as Ashok Chavan quitting the party, Kharge said, Some people are power-hungry.
![Democracy would be destroyed if BJP keeps bringing down elected govts: Kharge on HP RS poll result](https://devdiscourse.blob.core.windows.net/imagegallery/11_03_2020_13_23_01_9613234.jpg)
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With the Congress dispensation in Himachal Pradesh under threat following cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha election Tuesday, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the BJP, saying democracy would be ''destroyed'' if the Centre's ruling party continues to bring down elected governments.
Congress nominee Abhishek Singhvi lost the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh, where his party is in power, to the BJP's Harsh Mahajan amid cross-voting in the election held in Shimla.
Kharge said they would challenge the election as both the candidates got 34 votes each and the decision was taken on the basis of a lottery.
''If the (Central) government breaks an elected government, what democracy is it. It has happened earlier in Karnataka, Manipur, Goa. When they do not get elected, they take measures, intimidate them and break the government. Is this democracy?'' Kharge asked at a summit hosted by the TV9 Network ''Why they are doing this, I fail to understand. If they continue to do this, they will end democracy and demolish democracy and put the Constitution aside,'' the Congress president said, adding this cannot continue like this in the country.
Asked about longtime Congress leaders such as Ashok Chavan quitting the party, Kharge said, ''Some people are power-hungry''. ''When such people were with us for 30-40 years they had no issues as we were in power. What changes have come in our ideology now (that they left). I have been with one party throughout. My aim is to save democracy and the Constitution. That is why I am fighting whether I get something or not,'' he said.
The contest between Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Harsh Mahajan was tied at 34-34 votes after which the BJP leader was declared winner by draw of lots, officials said. It is a major jolt for the Congress which has 40 MLAs in the 68-member state assembly and claimed support of the independents. The result made it clear that nine MLAs voted in favour of the BJP which was confident that Congress MLAs would exercise 'conscience vote'. At present, the BJP has 25 MLAs in the state assembly.
Talking about the Indian National Inclusive Developmental Alliance( INDIA), Kharge said the Congress is taking everyone along. ''No matter how much PM Modi tries to break the alliance, he will not succeed.'' He also took a swipe at JD(U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying he claimed that he brought everyone together when it was the Congress that got opposition leaders together.
''I did the first meeting in my house. I called Sharad Pawar and then I called the DMK and then we spoke to all parties. Then later Kejriwal ji also came. When we discussed where should we do the meeting, Nitish Kumar said let us do it Patna,'' Kharge said, Asked that some in INDIA bloc allies wanted him to be PM candidate, Kharge said first the numbers are needed then only one can decide who becomes PM.
Asked about the Ram temple consecration and whether it had generated a pro-incumbency wave for the Modi government in the north, Kharge said, ''Politics and religion are different and one should not mix the two to divide people which this government is doing.'' ''Why do you (PM Modi) want to become sadhu, you have been made PM to solve the problems of the people,'' he said.
On the North-South debate, Kharge said it is not right to divide south and north as ''we are all Indians''.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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