Karnataka Polls Will Decide State's Future: PM Modi Flays Congress Over 'Insults', Work For Poor & Farmers

Addressing a gathering in Karnataka's Bidar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised that the state polls will not just elect a government for five years but will decide the state's future.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed a public meeting at Humnabad in Bidar District as he began his two-day visit to the poll-bound state. The Karnataka assembly election for 224 seats will be held on May 10 and the counting of votes will be done on May 13. This is PM Modi’s ninth visit to Karnataka this year since February. PM Modi exhorted the people to vote for the BJP to give it a clear majority, while he attacked the Congress over its performance in governance and alleged insults.

Amid row over Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's "poisonous snake" remark, PM Modi accused the grand old party of abusing him "91 times."

"The Congress has begun abusing me. Someone made a list of these abuses and sent me. The Congress has abused me 91 times so far," he remarked. "When their top most leaders abuse me I recall how this party abused Baba Sahab Ambedkar. Congress called Babasaheb Ambedkar rakshasa (demon), rashtradrohi (country's traitor), dagabaaz dost (deceitful friend). Now they are also abusing Veer Savarkar," he added.

Earlier, he emphasised that the state polls will not just elect a government for five years but will decide the state's future for the vision to make it the country's number 1 state and "the double engine government is very important for this." "The state can only develop when all parts are developed. This election will decide the role of the state and to make it number 1, double engine government is very important for the state," he said.

The Prime Minister hit out at the Congress saying that the party "cheated" farmers with promises of loan waivers. "No loan waiver was done or only those associated with the party received the benefits."

He credited the BJP government for increased foreign investment in the state as he claimed that the foreign investment has increased three times over in the state under the BJP regime compared to the Congress regime. "Double engine government means double speed. There is double development with double speed in the state. Karnataka is ready for the BJP government again. Congress had only made fake promises to the farmers and people of Karnataka. Farmers of the state have received no benefits under the Congress government," he said.

PM Modi remarked that the Congress could never understand the pain of the poor and hence, it couldn't fulfill the promises of giving pucca houses to the poor. "Congress will never understand the struggle and pain of the poor. Congress slowed the pace of houses here. But BJP gave ownership of houses to women here," he said. "The BJP government committed to making 9 lakh homes for the poor. Out of this, 30,000 houses will be made in Bidhar alone," he added.

Calling himself the son of the poor, he highlighted the Union government's scheme providing free ration to the poor, the introduction of One Nation One Ration card, opening free bank accounts, and more.

"The Congress has only divided the country based on caste and religion. The party has only indulged in appeasement politics," he remarked.

PM Modi also criticised JD(S) saying that the party is not focused on the welfare of the people, but has committed allegiance to the Congress. 

Recalling the remarks by the Congress leaders against him, PM Modi said that the voters will respond to the "insults" with their votes. "They abuse me the way they abused Babasaheb Ambedkar and Veer Savarkar, I consider it as a gift. I will continue to toil for the people. Your blessings will turn these insults into ashes," he commented.

Karnataka Election 2023: PM Modi's Campaign Schedule

After the meeting, Modi will fly to Vijayapura, where he will address a public gathering at 1 pm. He will then fly to Kudachi in Belagavi district where he will address voters at about 2:45 pm.

In the evening, the Prime Minister will fly to Bengaluru to hold a road show in Bengaluru North.

After staying in Bengaluru, Modi will then fly to Kolar on Sunday morning and address a public meeting at 11:30 am. He will then visit Channapatna in Ramanagara district at 1:30 pm.

During his trip, Modi will also visit the temple town of Belur in Hassan district. A huge pandal is being prepared in Belur for PM Modi's public meeting.

It is expected that lakhs of people will come to see and listen to the Prime Minister. According to ANI, BJP workers who are looking after the arrangements for the Prime Minister's program said more than two lakh people are expected to attend the public meeting.

PM Modi will then hold a roadshow in Mysuru the same evening. After the event, he would fly from Mysuru to Delhi.