On Monday, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge voiced strong criticism against the Modi-led Central government. His disapproval stemmed from the decision to permit an India-Pakistan cricket match in the Asia Cup, which took place just the previous day.
Speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi, Mr. Kharge directly challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He asked whether proceeding with the match was truly a priority, especially given the opposition from victims’ families of the Pahalgam terror attacks.
“We tragically lost 26 citizens in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam,” Mr. Kharge stated, accusing Mr. Modi of prioritizing cricket over the nation’s honor and the sentiments of its people.
The minister also took a jab at state BJP leaders for organizing events like ‘Dharmasthala Chalo’ and ‘Maddur Chalo.’ He specifically called out BJP leader C.T. Ravi for what he described as a provocative speech delivered at a recent event in Mandya district.
According to Kharge, these BJP leaders are actively fueling communal discord by attempting to incite divisions between different communities.
He further alleged, “The children of BJP leaders are never seen wearing saffron shawls. Instead, they exploit poor and impressionable youths by handing them saffron shawls purely for political leverage.”
Fresh Assessment of Crop Damage
Addressing growing worries about crop destruction, Mr. Kharge confirmed that officials have been instructed to conduct a new, thorough assessment of crop losses across the district once the persistent rainfall ceases.
Initial surveys indicate that crops on 1.05 lakh hectares of agricultural land have already been damaged. This affects approximately 1.36 lakh farmers, representing 45% of those enrolled in crop insurance programs within the district.
When questioned about the district’s severely deteriorated roads, the Minister announced that rural road repair projects would commence using the allocated ₹40 crore. Urban road repairs, managed by the city corporation, are scheduled to begin after the monsoon season concludes.
Regarding a potential Cabinet reshuffle, Mr. Kharge clarified that no discussions have taken place, and no new appointments are planned at this time. However, he acknowledged that many legislators are keen on securing ministerial positions and have started lobbying Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, AICC Chairman M. Mallikarjun Kharge, and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
Following his press conference, Mr. Kharge personally visited agricultural fields in Keri Bhosga village to observe and evaluate the extent of crop damage caused by the continuous heavy rains.