BJP using divide and rule policy: Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for using "divide and rule policy" to run the country.

"If there is anybody who uses the divide and rule policy, then it is the BJP and the Narendra Modi government. The way you are operating now, the way you are mistreating minorities, compromising on freedom of speech, spreading inequality, democracy would have been demolished by now had we adhered to your measures," Kharge said in his speech during the proceeding of the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha.

Kharge also said that Centre ignores all the good work that Congress did while in power.

"BJP does not acknowledge the work Congress has done in all these years. It shouldn't lecture us. BJP doesn't look beyond itself," Kharge said.

"They say we have done a lot for the farmers, whereas on the other hand the cases of farmer suicides have increased over the past few years. They have only talked about Adani and Ambani, not farmers," he added.

The no-confidence motion was moved by the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) over Andhra Pradesh Special Category status issue.

TDP leader Jayadev Galla began the Lok Sabha proceedings on Friday lashing out at BJP-led Centre. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah's regime is a saga of "empty promises".