One day PM may say he is so popular & no need for democracy!

New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he may one day claim that he is "very popular" and there is no need for democracy and elections.

He also accused the BJP government of "misusing" probe agencies to target political opponents and destabilise governments led by opposition parties, and asked why the ED, CBI and the Income Tax Department become active only in states ruled by opposition parties and ahead of elections.

Participating in a discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha accused the government of bias against members of the opposition and misusing central agencies to force them to become turncoats, and said people will lose faith in democracy.

"I don't know when the PM will declare the last election. PM will claim that he is very popular and there is no need for democracy," Kharge said.

Referring to the resignation of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his subsequent arrest by the ED on Wednesday, Kharge claimed that he is being framed in a false case.

He claimed that 411 MLAs have switched sides due to threats from agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax Department.

The Congress chief said leaders of his party are labelled as corrupt but once they join the BJP, they become "clean" and all cases against them are dropped.

"Those who don't listen (to the ruling party) go to jail. This is your policy and you preach us (on democracy)," he said.

Kharge said ever since the prime minister assumed power, prices of essential commodities have risen.

"The truth is that the BJP has given single digit growth, double digit inflation and has given guarantee of doom to the common people due to rising unemployment," Kharge alleged. (PTI)