Insult to Opposition leaders: Mallikarjun Kharge hits out at Kiren Rijiju for replying to PM Modi letter

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated on Tuesday that he would brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday regarding the opposition party’s objections to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, the proposed delimitation exercise, and the delayed implementation of women’s reservation. Speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi, Kharge confirmed he had personally sent correspondence to the Prime Minister and intended to detail the perceived harms of the electoral roll revision and the implications of the boundary redrawing process during their scheduled interaction on October 21. He specifically requested clarification on why the government had not yet implemented the reservation for women in legislative bodies. Kharge indicated that he had written to the Prime Minister four times regarding these matters. His initial communication flagged an unprecedented delay in proroguing the Monsoon Session, which was adjourned sine die on August 13. By the time of his latest letter, 64 days had elapsed without either house of Parliament being formally closed. The Congress leader urged the Prime Minister to convene an all-party meeting to discuss new delimitation proposals before they were finalized for parliamentary consideration. He warned against attempting to pass a far-reaching Constitutional Amendment Bill without adequate consultation. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded to Kharge’s demands in a detailed letter sent on Monday. Rijiju asserted that the government had repeatedly sought Congress cooperation through written communications in March and April, as well as direct discussions with Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. He noted that the Congress had not provided dates for talks despite repeated requests, leading the government to consult other political entities. These included the DMK, Samajwadi Party, YSRCP, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM, and BJD. Rijiju rejected allegations of procedural impropriety concerning the delay in prorogation, stating there is no constitutional requirement specifying a fixed period for closing a house after it is adjourned sine die. Earlier this week, Kharge criticized Rijiju for responding to his letter on behalf of the Prime Minister. During an interaction in Bengaluru, Kharge argued that Rijiju lacked the authority to act as a proxy and was merely being used as a front, similar to how the government utilized Election Commission official Gyanesh Kumar. Kharge accused Prime Minister Modi of insulting opposition leaders by refusing to reply directly to their correspondence. He questioned whether the Prime Minister considered himself above the law or the Constitution, noting that while Modi holds a prominent position, he remains one member among 543 in the Lok Sabha. The central government is currently advancing a One Hundred and Thirty First Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2026, alongside the delimitation bill. This package aims to introduce 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, while also expanding the size of the lower house. The previous attempt to pass the delimitation amendment failed in April because the ruling National Democratic Alliance coalition could not secure the requisite two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha. Those bills had been made public late on April 14, followed by a special session on April 16, with the vote taking place on April 17. In his recent correspondence, Kharge also demanded the repeal of a 2023 law that grants legal protection and immunity to the Election Commissioner. He cited irregularities attributed to Gyanesh Kumar and argued that if the government desires fair elections, it must adhere to the constitutional framework, remove Kumar, and overhaul the electoral system. Kharge further reiterated the demand that traditional ballot papers replace the Electronic Voting Machine system. Separately, Kharge extended Dasara greetings to citizens nationwide, expressing hope that the festival would bring joy amidst current distress caused by rainfall deficits. He suggested organizing a grand Dasara celebration in the Kalyana Karnataka region, potentially in Kalaburagi, starting next year to promote cultural heritage and social harmony. He stated he would discuss this proposal with Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to gauge feasibility and ensure wide public participation.