Kalaburagi (Karnataka), March 8: AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said US President Donald Trump is a “dictator” and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is his “gulam” (slave), as he targeted the BJP-led government at the Centre over its stand on the ongoing Middle Eastern crisis, trade deal with the USA, and tariff issue.
Addressing a gathering after launching various development projects worth Rs 1,069 crore in Chittapur here, he claimed that Modi is “controlled” by Trump using the Jeffrey Epstein files.
“It (Iran) is also a country, its supreme leader was murdered…if the leader of a country is killed will that country and the world be safe? Think about it. Whether it is Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei or Venezuela’s leader (Nicolas Maduro Moros). If leaders of countries are threatened like this, there will be no peace in the world,” Kharge said, as he accused the US for its “arrogance” and violating international laws.
Also, targeting India’s trade deal with the US, he claimed that India was forced to accept it, where it cannot impose tariffs on the import of several agricultural products, while the Americans impose tariffs on what India exports to them.
“Sixty five per cent of our farmers are dependent on agriculture, while it is 3 per cent in America. What will happen to our farmers? With friendship with such people (Trump), you (Modi) are destroying our country, pushing it to slavery. You have pledged the country for American interests. You act as America says,” he added.
Pointing out that India used to get oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela, Kharge said the country used to buy from wherever it was cheap to fulfill its energy needs, but today the purchase is made based on what Modi directs and at the price he dictates. “He is destroying the country.”
Modi calls Trump his friend. India used to get oil from Russia, but Trump said not to do so, or else he will impose tariffs. “This is what Modi’s dost (friend) has done.”
“Modi speaks so much. He does Mann Ki Baat. Why doesn’t he speak now, when America is doing so much injustice to us by asking us, not to get oil as per our choice,” he said.
Noting that the US has given a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil, Kharge said, “He (Trump) is a dictator. Modi is his gulam (slave).”
“Will you accept it (diktat)? The Congress party got the country’s freedom from the British. Gandhiji and others sacrificed themselves for the cause by taking bullets. You abused such a Congress and came to power. Did you come to power to take the country to slavery,” he asked. (PTI)
