Centre criticised for allowing India to play Asia Cup cricket match with Pakistan

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday criticized the Modi-led Central government for allowing India to play the Asia Cup cricket match with Pakistan on Sunday.

Addressing presspersons in Kalaburagi, Mr. Kharge questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi whether playing with Pakistan was important, though the terror victims of Pahalgam opposed it.

“We lost 26 citizens in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and Mr. Modi chose cricket over nation’s pride,” Mr. Kharge added.

Slamming the BJP leaders in the State for organising Dharmasthala Chalo and Maddur Chalo, Mr. Kharge criticized BJP leader C.T. Ravi for his provocative speech at an event in Mandya district.

The BJP leaders are fomenting communal disharmony by trying to pit members of one community against the other, he claimed.

“The children of BJP leaders are not the ones wearing saffron shawls. The BJP leaders give saffron shawls to only the poor and innocent youths for their own political gain,” the Minister said.

Fresh assessment

Responding to rising concerns over crop loss, Mr. Kharge said that directions have been issued to officials concerned to conduct a fresh assessment of loss of crops in the district once it stops raining.

As per a preliminary survey, crops cultivated on 1.05 lakh hectares of agricultural land have suffered damage. As much as 1.36 lakh farmers (45%) have suffered crop loss against the 3.08 lakh farmers enrolled in crop insurance schemes in the district.

Replying to a question about abysmal road conditions in the district, the Minister said that road repair works in rural areas will be taken up with the available ₹40 crore. The city corporation will take up road repair works after the rainy season.

Mr. Kharge said that there has been no discussion on Cabinet reshuffle and there will be no new induction into the Cabinet as of now. However, several legislators have been aspiring for Ministerial berths and they have begun approaching Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, AICC Chairman M. Mallikarjun Kharge and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, he added.

Later, Mr. Kharge visited agriculture fields in Keri Bhosga village to assess crop damage caused by incessant rainfall.

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