Congress never ruined India: Kharge

Mangalore, May 27 (UNI) Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Mallikarjuna Kharge today refuted the allegations levelled by the BJP and JD(S) leaders that the Congress had ruined the country.

If the Congress had really ruined the country during its 40-years rule as alleged by them, Mr H D Kumaraswamy and Mr B S Yediyurappa would not have become the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister of the state respectively, he said while taking part in the 43rd anniversary of death of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, organised by the party at Jappinamogru, on the outskirts of the city.

Stating that Pandit Nehru had made remarkable contributions in building the nation and putting it on a strong base, Mr Kharge said the continuation of secular principles in the country had enabled Mr Kumaraswamy to become the Chief Minister and Mr Yediyurappa, the Deputy Chief Minister.

Opposition leader in the Assembly and former Chief Minister Dharam Singh has termed the JD(S)-BJP coalition government in Karnataka as ''Kumaraswamy-Yediyurappa'' government.

Union Minister of State for Planning M V Rajashekaran, former Union Minister Jaffer Sheriff, party observer for the Ullal byelection and AICC general secretary Praveen, were among others, who participated in the function.

UNI