New Delhi, Jan 10 (Reporter) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday hit out at the Narendra Modi government for "silencing" opposition MPs and "failing" to address the issues of the common man. "In the winter session of parliament, 146 opposition MPs were suspended as they tried to raise the issue of the recent attack on parliament. The opposition members were suspended as they demanded a discussion on the issue. And then the government passed legislations like the Telecom Bill, the CEC bill and the criminal law bills," Kharge said in his inaugural address at a meeting of AICC office-bearers here. The meeting was called to review preparations for former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra", which begins on January 14 from Imphal. Kharge alleged that Prime Minister Modi has converted Parliament into a platform for greetings and applause and this is not "acceptable". “So, to raise issues related to the public, we have to go to the people. And Rahul Gandhi has chosen the Yatra to raise issues pertaining to social, financial justice, price rise, unemployment, caste-based census and other issues being faced by the people of the country.” Kharge, who chaired the meeting, said the country needs a change. "And to make it possible, we have to work day and night at the grassroots level and win the confidence of the people." Referring to the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) floated by the parties opposed to the BJP, he said "There is an alliance of the opposition called I.N.D.I.A, and one can see the confusion in BJP due to it. BJP has now understood the power of the opposition alliance." Kharge also informed that there had been progress in the alliance as far as seat sharing is concerned. He urged all the party leaders to meet the voters and talk to them. Stating that the Congress’ fight was against the mentality of the BJP and RSS. he said the party should tread the path shown by great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose and Sarojini Naidu. The Rajya Sabha MP also asked his party leaders to refrain from making any such comments, which would spoil the image of the party. The Congress president said Centre's ruling NDA has no success story to tell the country. Instead it had "ruined" all the assets that were earned since the country's independence by giving them away to some of their "select friends"...////...