Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Monday sharply criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing him of showing “arrogance and insensitivity” towards a farmer who had approached him with grievances.
In a post on X, Kumaraswamy expressed his “deep disappointment” over Kharge’s conduct, questioning the Congress leader’s responsibility as the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and AICC President.
“Respected Mallikarjun Kharge avare, I was deeply disappointed by your behavior towards the farmers. From a senior leader, I certainly did not expect such conduct. If a farmer in distress cannot approach you and share his pain, then who else should he turn to?” Kumaraswamy wrote.
The Union Minister condemned Kharge’s comparison of the farmer’s losses to his own, noting that Kharge reportedly said, “Yours may have four acres affected, but mine has 40 acres ruined.” Kumaraswamy called such remarks “unnecessary” and stressed that a poor farmer’s loss should not be diminished in comparison to a larger-scale farmer.
“That display of arrogance towards a farmer who came only to express his grief was unnecessary. You too may be a toor dal farmer, but how can there be any comparison between a person like you cultivating 40 acres and a poor farmer cultivating just one or two acres?” Kumaraswamy added.
He further accused Kharge of insulting not just the farmer but also his family, calling it evidence of the “traditional arrogance” and “ego” of the Congress party.
“Kharge avare, what was the need to say such words? A senior leader should set an example. Instead, you insulted the farmer, and along with him, you insulted his mother! This is unacceptable. At the very least, you could have consoled him and wiped away his tears,” Kumaraswamy posted.