Invest Karnataka Meet: Rajnath Singh urges to rise above political differences; Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi skip event citing Parliament proceedings

"While our political ideologies may differ, when it comes to the progress and development of our nation, we rise above our differences and stand united on a common platform," said Union defence minister Rajnath Singh on February 11.

Singh was speaking at the inaugural event of Invest Karnataka event which targets around Rs 10 lakh crore in investments.

His remarks came after two senior Congress leaders, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi, who were invited as key guests, skipped the event.  They were reportedly unhappy about Union ministers and BJP leaders receiving prominence at the event hosted by the Congress-led Karnataka government. While Gandhi was supposed to launch the revamped Single Window System, Kharge was slated to participate in the concluding ceremony.

Singh reiterated the importance of unity in governance, stating: “According to classical political science, be it the Central government or the state governments, we are all integral parts of the Indian State. We thrive on the bedrock of constitutional values. These values remind us that while our political ideologies may differ, when it comes to the progress and development of our nation, we rise above our differences and stand united on a common platform.”

He urged political leaders to prioritise national interests over partisan differences, saying, “Above all political differences, the unity, integrity, and progress of our country must always remain our highest priority.”

Citing former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Singh said: “I would like to remind everyone of the profound words of our Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He once said, ‘Governments will come and go, parties will be formed and dissolved, but this nation must endure."’ His words serve as a timeless reminder that, above all political differences, the unity, integrity, and progress of our country must always remain our highest priority.”

Singh also spoke about India’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment. “Our constitutional values are deeply rooted in our rich history of political tolerance and acceptance of opposition. In India, we have actively worked to address challenges that investors previously faced. The cumbersome process of obtaining multiple clearances has been replaced by a single-window system, ensuring a faster and hassle-free experience.”

Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh explained the absence of Kharge and Gandhi in a post on X . He wrote: “Both the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and @INCIndia President Shri Mallikarjun @kharge and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shri @RahulGandhi are extremely tied up in Parliament today on account of the continuing debate on the Budget. Hence, they have regretted their inability to attend the inauguration of the Karnataka Investor Summit this evening in Bengaluru. They have sent their best wishes for the Summit and are confident that it will be a very productive and successful one in keeping with Karnataka’s unique competitive and comparative advantages.”.  Several other top industrialists and global investors also participated in the event.