Priyank Kharge questions PM’s Parliament absence, urges Centre on water disputes

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Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge on Friday attacked the BJP-led Centre, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence from Parliament and urging the Union government to play a more active role in resolving inter-state river disputes as climate change worsens water stress. Kharge asked who was running the country if neither Modi nor Home Minister Amit Shah was attending Parliament, and whether RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was in charge. He also criticised Bhagwat's recent remarks on foreign policy, accusing the RSS of behaving like a political organisation while claiming otherwise.

On the Cauvery dispute, Kharge asserted Karnataka was not diverting any water allocated to Tamil Nadu and was acting within the law. He called for better standard operating procedures during droughts and stronger central intervention on rivers like Cauvery, Krishna and Mahadayi. On the possible Karnataka cabinet reshuffle, Kharge said he would abide by any Congress high command decision.