Politics, Patriotism 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday slammed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for skipping the Independence Day function at the Red Fort and said that it shows his party’s ‘mindset’. On Kharge citing ‘paucity of time’ and traffic restrictions for not attending the function, the ruling party said the Congress could have ‘tweaked’ the timing of its programme.Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday skipped the 77th Independence Day function at the Red Fort in Delhi from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation.Kharge, who unfurled the national flag at his residence and later at the Congress headquarters, said he could not have reached his party office in time from the Red Fort. “By calling people of the country ‘rakshas’ (demon)… the Congress showed how it looks at the people in democracy. Now, when our country’s main opposition party leader, who is also the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, does not come on the 77th Independence Day, you can imagine what is the mindset of the Congress,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told reporters.Interestingly, Kharge cited “eye problems” and “paucity of time” as the reasons behind his absence at the event. Explaining his absence, Kharge said, “Firstly, I have some problem with my eyes. Secondly, I had to hoist the national flag at my residence at 9.20 am, as per protocol. Later, I had to come to the Congress office and also unfurl the Tricolour there. So, I could not have reached the Red Fort. His (Modi’s) security is so tight that they don’t let anyone go till the Prime Minister leaves… This is why I thought it would be better to avoid going to Red Fort keeping in mind the security detail and the paucity of time.”