Shivamogga: The Congress was “scared” and resorted to bringing in a veteran leader after their “lies did not work” in the Karnataka election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday in an indirect dig at party leader Sonia Gandhi.
PM says Congress scared, trying to dump responsibility of defeat
“The Congress is so afraid and scared that when their lies did not work, they brought in those who are not taking part in campaigning. The Congress leaders have started dumping the responsibility of defeat on each other,” he said at a rally here.
Gandhi, 76, who has been largely absent from public rallies and campaigning since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections because of health concerns, addressed her first election meeting in Hubbali on Saturday, ahead of the voting in the state on May 10.
Modi's indirect reference to Gandhi was brief but he went hammer and tongs at the Congress, accusing it of inflating “balloons of lies”.
“The Congress has created an ecosystem to peddle its lies. These blatant lies have no truth at the ground level. But people know the truth about the party. So, irrespective of how large a balloon they create, there won't be any benefit,” he said.
Modi focused on farmers and women, who are expected to vote in large numbers. “The women of Karnataka were completely neglected by the Congress government in the past. They have also done no development work for farmers. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has worked for the farmers of the state. Now all the lies of the Congress are fully exposed and the BJP will form the government with full majority,” he said.
“The education of girls and women's empowerment were pushed on to the backburner during the Congress rule. Girls used to drop out of school because the Congress did not make separate toilets for them. But the BJP campaigned to remove the injustice done to girls and today more and more girls are going to school,” he contended.
Focusing on the youth who had turned up in large numbers at the rally, Modi said: “Can a party whose aim is only corruption and appeasement help develop the state of Karnataka? Can a party that takes 85 per cent commission build a future for the youth? The Congress has never worked for the youth.”
Modi had earlier held a massive roadshow in Bengaluru, the second in two days, amid much fanfare. “We conducted the roadshow early as there was a NEET exam today. No political party dares to conduct or address any rally or public meeting so early. I received a lot of love today from the people of Bengaluru.”
PM Modi's roadshow in Bengaluru
Sunday's roadshow, which was much shorted than the 26-km one on Saturday, covered the 8 km distance from the Kempegowda statue at New Thippasandra Road to Trinity Circle in about one-and-half hours.
Modi was accompanied in the specially-designed vehicle by Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, and Bengaluru Central MP, PC Mohan.
The Prime Minister was greeted by the crowd on the sides of the roads and on nearby buildings, many of whom were heard chanting “Modi, Modi” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” amid drum beats, in what appeared to be a festive atmosphere in several places.
At Trinity Circle, where the roadshow ended, Modi repeatedly bowed in gratitude with folded hands, to the large crowd gathered there.
