NEW DELHI: Mallikarjun Kharge’s attempt in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday to play to the perceived differences between PM Modi and Nitin Gadkari did not work as the road transport minister not just refused the bait but also skilfully turned the spotlight on the much-talked about tension in the Congress president’s ties with the Karnataka CM and the deputy CM, reports Dipak Dash.
Kharge made his manoeuvre while flagging the lack of progress on a four-lane highway project linking Bengaluru to Gulbarga. Midway through his statement, he shifted gears to say the problem could be that Gadkari lacked the power he earlier had.
“Things have gone so far that I have heard – if it’s wrong I take it back – that even for assigning a number to an NH, you need to go to PMO. I have got such information. If it’s wrong, then it is fine. You tell us… You are raising funds through different means, including from bonds and that’s because of your own efforts. You have a sharp mind and if they don’t give funds, you find ways out,” the Congress chief said.
“Now, you are appreciating the PM, which I didn’t expect since while you do all the work, it is the PM who gets all the credit,” he added.
However, Gadkari refused to fall for the praise. “I want to tell Kharge ji that for assigning numbers to NHs, no file goes to the PM. The PM has appointed me (for the task) and I work as per the mandate given. I face no problem,” he said.
The minister also denied that lack of funds was a constraint, while stating that lack of environmental clearance, failure of state govts to acquire land and court cases were obstacles for highway construction. “Your chief minister and deputy chief minister agree that more work has been done than ever before. You can ask them, though I don’t know whether you have discussions with them,” Gadkari said, dipping into the speculation about Kharge’s not-so-smooth equations with his party colleagues Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar, CM and deputy CM of Karnataka, his home state.