New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Congress government in Karnataka, alleging that the grand old party has made the southern state its ATM. PM Modi stated that before every election, the Congress becomes an expert in lies and is doing the same in Karnataka.
Addressing a public rally in Karnataka's Shimoga, Modi said, "After coming to power in Karnataka, Congress has been telling one lie after another. Sometimes they blame the Centre, sometimes they make allegations against Modi and sometimes they blame other parties for their failures. This is because Congress never wanted to serve the people, they only want to loot the people. That's why they have turned Karnataka into their ATM,"
"4 June ko inko pata lag jayega ki Shakti ko lalkarne ka matlab kya hota hai. Congress is a party that will go to any extent to gain power. The British have left, but the Congress has not left the British mentality of divide and rule...Congress first divided the country, divided based on caste, based on community, and divided people on the basis of religion, region and language, and to gain power, Congress also divided the country, but still, Congress with its divisive mentality is not satisfied with this. Congress has again started playing the dangerous game of dividing the country," he stated.
Modi said that the love and support the BJP is getting in Karnataka has shocked the entire 'INDI' alliance.
"The kind of love and support the BJP is getting in every corner of Karnataka must have shocked the entire INDI alliance. BS Yediyurappa has spent most of his days in Shivamogga. Shivamogga has been his 'tapobhoomi'," said PM Modi addressing a public gathering in Shivamogga.
PM Modi further stated that the Karnataka voters have a big responsibility in ensuring the NDA's success in achieving over 400 seats.
"4 June ko 400 paar. Karnataka voters have a big responsibility in this mission. Why are we talking about 400 seats? 400 paar for Viksit Bharat, Viksit Karnataka," Modi said.
This is the second public meeting by Modi in two days after his first election meeting in Karnataka was held in Kalaburgi, the home turf of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
This time, the public meeting is happening in the home district of BJP stalwart Yediyurappa.
His elder son, B Y Raghavendra has been fielded by the saffron camp from the Shimoga Lok Sabha seat where party rebel and former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa says he will contest as an independent candidate.
Earlier in the day, Modi was in Telangana's Jagtial where he addressed a public rally and will hold a road show later in the day in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore.