Congress concentrated only on work, no marketing; BJP doing only marketing'

Mangaluru, Jul 16: Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the party has failed completely in marketing the achievements of the UPA government.

Inaugurating the party convention and Ambedkar Jayanthyutsava organized by Mangaluru South Block Congress Committee here on Saturday, Kharge said that Congress concentrated only on work and silently fulfilling promises whereas BJP concentrated only on marketing.

"We are lagging behind in marketing our party's achievements,” he lamented.

“The Congress has made several noteworthy contributions and led the nation towards development. It is the Congress that is instrumental in development of ports, airports, highways, bridges in the nation. The Congress government introduced several pro-people rules like Food Security Act, MGNREG Act, RTE Act and several other similar initiatives like Mangalyaan, but we have failed to market our achievements in a proper way. Ironically, the BJP does more marketing than the actual progress they record," Kharge said and called upon party workers to join hands in the process of building party at grass root levels.

"RSS, BJP and Sangh Parivar leaders, who never lit lamp during Ambedkar Jayanti and those who do not hoist tricolor, are teaching patriotism to Congress. Modi and the BJP leaders make a loud clamour that Congress destroyed the nation in the past. However, they are shamelessly claiming the credit of development works initiated by the UPA government by just cutting ribbon tapes now," Kharge charged.

Taking a dig at the BJP's pre-election promises, Kharge said, neither black money stashed in Swiss banks has been brought back, nor employment has been provided to unemployed youth.

Hitting at the Prime Minister's frequent foreign tours, Kharge said, "Modi visits foreign countries even without invitation even though we have an external affairs minister. Prime Minister of a nation should visit foreign countries only in case of very important conclaves. Investors will come to India if our foreign policy is attractive," he added.

Kharge said the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2016 should be passed as a dedication to B R Ambedkar on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary. "Passing Anti-superstition Bill will be a true tribute to the architect of Indian Constitution. I am sure that BJP leader Jagadish Shettar and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, who believe in Basavanna's ideology, will not oppose the passage of the bill," Kharge said.

Senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes, AICC in-charge secretary Shantharam Naik, energy minister DK Shivakumar, food and civil supplies minister UT Khader, KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao and other leaders were present. Mangaluru City South MLA JR Lobo presided.