Kalaburagi, 11 June

Rejecting the demand for Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar's resignation in connection with the 4 June RCB stampede that killed 11, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday asked whether Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath quit following the Kumbh Mela stampede this year.

Expressing pain over the loss of lives, he said it should be ensured that such incidents don't repeat, he told reporters here.

He added that when Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar met him and former AICC president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Tuesday, there was no discussion about a cabinet reshuffle or change of KPCC president in Karnataka. “It was a courtesy call by the CM and DCM. We have discussed two-three issues -- stampede, caste census and other matters relating to administration.

On caste census re-survey

Speaking about the caste census re-survey, Kharge said, “A caste survey was conducted 10 years ago. Many from different communities have requested the government to conduct a re-survey. We have suggested to the CM and DyCM to conduct a re-survey without rejecting the report submitted by the Kantharaj Commission.”

He added that a re-survey will include castes and sub-castes that were not covered earlier, including OBCs. 

Modi made 33 mistakes in 11 years

Attacking the Modi government on its 11th anniversary, Kharge said, "In the 11 years of Modi’s rule, 33 major mistakes have been made. I have never seen a Prime Minister who… deceives the youth and the poor, and uses that deceit to win votes.”

He added, “Be it demonetisation, job creation, or Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers — there are many such issues. He never admitted to lying or making mistakes, and he has never apologised.”