NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, describing the US leader as a “dictator” and alleging that Modi was acting as his “gulam” (slave).Speaking in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi, Kharge criticised the Centre’s foreign policy and its response to the ongoing Middle East crisis, claiming the Modi government was compromising India’s interests while aligning closely with Washington.“Epstein files that America has contains records of who has done what, where they have gone, what enjoyment they did on that island. Using it Trump has caught hold of Modi’s nose… fearing the Epstein files, Modi has bowed his head down and his mouth is shut,” Kharge said while addressing a gathering in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi.The Congress chief also described Trump as a “dictator” and claimed Modi was acting as his “gulam” (slave), as he criticised the Centre’s stance on the Middle East crisis, India’s trade ties with the United States and the issue of tariffs.Speaking after launching development projects worth Rs 1,069 crore in Chittapur, Kharge accused the BJP-led government of compromising India’s interests in its foreign policy decisions.“He (Trump) is a dictator. Modi is his gulam (slave),” Kharge said, referring to Washington’s decision to give a temporary waiver allowing Indian refiners to continue purchasing Russian oil.Targeting the recent escalation in West Asia, Kharge criticised the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and accused the United States of violating international law.“It (Iran) is also a country, its supreme leader was murdered…if the leader of a country is killed will that country and the world be safe? Think about it. Whether it is Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei or Venezuela’s leader (Nicolas Maduro Moros). If leaders of countries are threatened like this, there will be no peace in the world,” he said.Kharge further accused the US of acting with arrogance in global affairs and said India had been forced into trade arrangements that could harm the country’s agricultural sector.“Sixty five per cent of our farmers are dependent on agriculture, while it is 3 per cent in America. What will happen to our farmers? With friendship with such people (Trump), you (Modi) are destroying our country, pushing it to slavery. You have pledged the country for American interests. You act as America says,” he added.The Congress leader also criticised India’s energy policy, saying the country earlier purchased oil from multiple sources such as Russia, Iran and Venezuela based on price considerations.According to him, such decisions are now influenced by pressure from Washington.“Modi calls Trump his friend. India used to get oil from Russia, but Trump said not to do so, or else he will impose tariffs. This is what Modi’s dost (friend) has done,” Kharge said.He questioned why the prime minister had not spoken out against what he described as unfair treatment by the United States.“Modi speaks so much. He does Mann Ki Baat. Why doesn’t he speak now, when America is doing so much injustice to us by asking us, not to get oil as per our choice,” he said.Kharge also alleged that Modi was focusing more on election campaigning than governance.“Leaving that, he roams across the country, makes election speeches, and targets Congress and its leaders, despite the Congress not being in power for long. He does it to divert people’s attention. While we (Congress) did nation building, Modi is destroying the country,” he alleged.Claiming that the government’s foreign policy approach was flawed, Kharge said India once commanded greater respect internationally and played a major role in promoting peace through initiatives such as the Non-Aligned Movement.“What have they (Modi govt) done? They don’t have a good relationship with anyone. He (Modi) goes to every country, wears a medal on his neck and says he was honoured. Israel honoured him, and the very next day they hit Iran and killed Khamenei… such people have been born in our country. You (people) need to teach them a good lesson,” he said.Kharge also referred to reports that the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was torpedoed and sunk by the US in the Indian Ocean while returning from an international naval event hosted by India.“This shows your (Modi govt’s) actual strength,” he said.He warned that global conflicts could have severe consequences for ordinary citizens.“The rich will somehow survive. If there is a bomb attack on us, the rich will go to the US, UK or some other country, but where will the poor go?” he asked.The Congress president also criticised the ideology of the RSS, alleging that its members had supported the British during the freedom struggle.Alleging that people associated with the organisation had not sacrificed for the country’s independence, Kharge said their ideology was not good for the nation.The Union government has earlier rejected references to Prime Minister Modi in the Jeffrey Epstein case files, describing them as “little more than trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal that deserves to be dismissed with the utmost contempt”.Kharge also invoked former prime minister Indira Gandhi while criticising the government’s response to global challenges.Stating that India had faced few provocations in the past 75 years, he referred to the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh.“When Pakistan tried to do so, Indira Gandhi divided that country and created Bangladesh,” he said.“She did it without fear when the US sent a huge warship to the region then. Modi, why don’t you have such courage,” Kharge asked.
