Congress chief Kharge skips Red Fort, says needed at party event

THE CONGRESS TUESDAY called Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address the last of his second term - a "crass election speech" filled with distortions,lies, exaggerations and vague promises.

- MANOJ C G

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who chose to skip the official Independence Day function at the Red Fort, accused the BJP-led government of putting democracy, Constitution, and autonomous institutions in great danger. "Great people don't erase old history to write new history. They draw their line big; they don't make the already drawn line smaller by cutting or erasing it," he said.

While Kharge missed the Red Fort event - drawing sharp criticism from the BJP, he unfurled the tricolour at the AICC headquarters. The Prime Minister's address was all about himself and his image, he said, and argued that rhetoric and bluster cannot cover up the truth that his nine-year tenure has been all about bad policies, injustice and ill intention.