PM Narendra Modi addressed a public meeting in Karnataka's Vijayapura, his second poll gathering of the day after he hit out at the Congress in Bidar District for "abusing" him. 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. 


"Congress never worked for the poor and people of Karnataka, they just looted them," PM Modi remarked.


He accused the Congress of diverting the fund of various schemes to the middlemen and "ignored the plight of the farmers." "Women and daughters of the state suffered a lot under the Congress government. But the BJP government empowered them and changed their life by providing several help to them," he added.



As per the Prime Minister, the BJP government has prioritised every class such as poor, Dalit, destitute, and disabled. "In the BJP government, the society's deprived sections have social and economic security. The double-engine government has worked for the food, and shelter of the poor. There are 9 lakh such families in Karnataka who got entry into their first pucca house after several generations," he stressed.


He further mentioned that under his government, a Direct Benefit Transfer of Rs. 29 Lakh crore has been given directly to the bank accounts of the rightful beneficiaries. "Earlier, women used to not get any rights to handle household finances. Now because of Jan Dhan bank accounts, women have achieved financial assistance and have become the decision-makers," he added.


PM Modi alleged that the Congress government never took note of the problems faced by members of the Lambani-Banjara community. "It's the double engine BJP government that delivered social justice."


"Congress, which did not understand the teachings of Lord Basavanna, always opposed Babasaheb Ambedkar, that Congress can never work for Dalits and backward and solve their problems," Modi told the gathering in Vijayapura.


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Karnataka Election 2023 - Congress Has Abused Me 91 Times. They Abuse Me Like They Abused Ambedkar, Savarkar: PM Modi


Earlier in the day, amid a 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 in Bidar. "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."


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Karnataka Election 2023: PM Modi's Campaign Schedule


After the meeting in Vijayapura, PM Modi will 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.