Senior Congress leader and former minister B Ramanath Rai launched a sharp counterattack on Friday against opposition leader R Ashoka of the BJP for his remarks targeting AICC general secretary KC Venugopal. The political spat erupted after Ashoka labelled Venugopal a "high command agent" within the Congress party.
Rai Questions BJP's 'Agent' Designation
Addressing reporters in Mangaluru, Rai turned the tables on the BJP by questioning the terminology used by its leaders. He pointedly asked if KC Venugopal was being called an agent, then what designation should be given to the BJP's own general secretary and state in-charge. "Are they 'agents' or 'brokers'?" Rai questioned, highlighting what he saw as the hypocrisy in the opposition's criticism.
Rai dismissed Ashoka's statements as childish and urged the BJP to focus on substantive opposition. He stated that instead of making personal comments, the BJP should highlight any genuine failures of the current state government. "People of Karnataka clearly remember how the opposition conducted itself when it was in power," he remarked, suggesting the BJP was in no position to lecture on governance.
Congress Promises vs. NDA's Bihar Strategy
The veteran Congress leader drew a sharp contrast between his party's path to power in Karnataka and the NDA's strategy in Bihar. He asserted that the Congress won the Karnataka assembly elections based on pro-people promises outlined in its manifesto. In contrast, he accused the NDA in Bihar of coming to power with the help of the Election Commission and by announcing a cash promise of Rs 10,000 for each woman voter after the election dates were declared.
Rai reminded the audience that BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had heavily criticised the Congress's guarantee schemes before the Karnataka polls. "What did the NDA do in Bihar?" he questioned, implying a double standard in the BJP's criticism of welfare promises.
Rai Criticises BJP's Silence on Rupee Depreciation
Expanding his critique to national economic issues, Rai targeted the BJP's perceived silence on the weakening Indian rupee. He recalled how the BJP had vocally criticised the former UPA government on economic matters. "Why is the BJP, which criticised the erstwhile UPA govt, silent now when the rupee value declined drastically?" he asked.
Rai highlighted that the rupee had hit an all-time low of Rs 90 against the US Dollar, yet the ruling party at the centre had not offered any substantial reaction or critique of its own government's handling of the situation. This, he suggested, revealed a partisan approach to holding governments accountable.
In conclusion, Rai accused the BJP of daydreaming about capitalising on minor internal issues within the Congress and being preoccupied with making baseless allegations against the Karnataka government, rather than engaging in constructive opposition.
