Modi continues tirade against Cong

Hopping across four public rallies in poll-bound Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi punched the Congress where it hurts the most — the Nehru-Gandhi family — while also taking on the Siddaramaiah government for mismanagement of central funds and its celebration of “Sultans”.

“I want to ask the Congress, why are ‘maa-beta’ out on bail?” said Modi, alluding to the National Herald case, in which Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, and his mother and predecessor Sonia, are among the accused.

Addressing a massive crowd in Hubballi, Modi, the BJP’s star campaigner asked: “The Congress party leadership should say why maa-beta are out on bail and not appearing in court. Why has an FIR has been filed against them? What allegations were levelled against them? And what was the reason for them to apply for bail?”

“My brothers and sisters of Karnataka, you should know that there are allegations of a ₹5,000-crore scam against the maa-beta of the Congress.”

The PM alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka had spent only ₹20 crore of the ₹800 crore allotted to it under the Smart City programme for seven cities.

To the Hubballi crowd, Modi said: “The project involves Hubli-Dharwad city as well. But the sleeping government is not clearing files and is delaying projects in anticipation of money to clear projects.”

Earlier in the day, Modi reached out to Dalit voters, and claimed the Congress had failed to recognise the services of BR Ambedkar.

“It was the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government that awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously to Dr Ambedkar to recognise his services and dedication to the welfare of the Dalits, the tribals and the poor,” Modi said, addressing an election rally in Chitradurga.

“There are monuments in the name of persons who belonged to Nehru family but not in the name of Ambedkar. But after I became Prime Minister, the 125th Ambedkar Jayanthi was celebrated not only at his birth place and in other parts of the country but also in London.”

Modi chastised the Siddaramaiah government for celebrating the birthday of Tipu Sultan, alleging that the Congress feted those who looted and killed the poor, but never considered honouring Chitradurga warrior Onake Obbavva, who tried to defend a fort single-handedly. The Congress had also forgotten the great warrior Veera Madakari Nayak, Modi said.

At Raichur, Modi alleged that the Congress, during it five-year rule, had indulged in divide and rule policy and hence irrigation projects remained incomplete and drinking water problem in the villages kept increasing.

He slammed Congress government for not doing enough for this border district, which was known as a ‘rice bowl’ and supplied most of the electricity to the entire State.

“Despite growing special variety ‘Sona Masuri’ rice, which is as special as Basmati rice, the farmers cry for water and sustained power supply. But Congress politicians try to ‘stir up butter’ from the water to fill their pockets and forget the farmers. Raichur, that produces more than half the electricity, remains in the dark as the (Congress) politicians in Bengaluru are more interested in raking in corrupt money. So should we change this government or not?” he asked.

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