- Friday, April 19, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
The ongoing conflict in Sudan between its military and paramilitary forces has emerged into a burning election issue in Karnataka, the southern state of India which will witness voting on May 10.
Siddaramaiah, a former chief minister of Karnataka who is contesting his final election, slammed the Narendra Modi government in Delhi accusing it of doing little for at least 31 members of the Hakki Pikki tribe from the state who have remained stranded in the north African state.
The Indian National Congress leader’s attack against the federal government in a series of tweets saw a sharp response from India’s external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar who called Siddaramaiah’s act “appalling” and alleged that he was doing politics when lives are at stake.
Siddaramaiah hit back at Jaishankar in another tweet, saying, “Since you are the External Affairs Minister, I have appealed you for help. If you are busy getting appalled please point us to the person who can help us bring our people back.”
Since you are the External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar I have appealed you for help.
If you are busy getting appalled please point us to the person who can help us bring our people back. https://t.co/B21Lndvxit
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 18, 2023
It did not take much time for other leaders of the Congress to retaliate at Jaishankar also over his response to the former chief minister of Karnataka.
Senior parliamentarian Jairam Ramesh criticised the foreign minister saying the latter gave a “most appalling” response after Siddaramaiah made a genuine appeal. He also accused the diplomat of developing new loyalties and indicated that he wants to remain silent on his past.
A most appalling response from the External Affairs minister to a former CM with a genuine appeal. This level of nastiness from a man I have known so very well… who has developed new loyalties and who wants to show that in whatever he says and does. I am 😷 on his past. https://t.co/Eh9sixxbU9 pic.twitter.com/NdtPYGIipZ
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 19, 2023
The Congress on its official Twitter account also attacked both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in New Delhi and Karnataka saying in a tweet, “Clearly, the Double-Engine govt seems least bothered about the safety of our Kannadiga brothers and sisters stranded in Sudan. The BJP cannot shy away from the responsibility!”
Clearly, the Double-Engine govt seems least bothered about the safety of our Kannadiga brothers and sisters stranded in Sudan.
The BJP cannot shy away from the responsibility!#BJPInsultsKarnataka pic.twitter.com/sfMoOP5OHs
— Congress (@INCIndia) April 20, 2023
‘Double engine government’ is a term which has been popularised by Modi implying BJP governments at both the federal level and a particular state.
Senior Congress parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor also reacted to Jaishankar’s response. In a tweet, he said the external affairs minister’s response surprised him.
He said, “On this issue @DrSJaishankar’s response surprises me. He knows that public representatives frequently convey to Govt appeals from constituents in distress. He has helped me w/several during Covid. Why was
@siddaramaiah ji’s request “appalling”?
On this issue @DrSJaishankar’s response surprises me. He knows that public representatives frequently convey to Govt appeals from constituents in distress. He has helped me w/several during Covid. Why was @siddaramaiah ji’s request “appalling”? https://t.co/LVgQrxlbgj
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 19, 2023
Randeep Surjewala, the Congress’s national spokesperson and the grand-old party’s in-charge for the Karnataka elections, accused prime minister Narendra Modi and state chief minister Basavaraj Bommai as “anti-Kannadiga” (people of Karnataka) who allegedly left the tribal people unsafe in Sudan.
The Congress is eyeing to return to power in Karnataka, one of India’s industrialised states, ahead of next year’s general elections.
Meanwhile, disturbance continued in Sudan, leaving many Indian nationals in the country worried over the future. They were also facing shortage of food and electricity while India’s diplomatic establishments said talks were on with countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, US and UK to ensure safety of the Indians who are stuck in the African nation.
Two-hundred seventy people have reportedly died in the violence while over 2,600 have been injured. One Indian national from Kerala was killed by a stray bullet on Saturday (15), the day the violence started.
