New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Jaimram Ramesh stated on Wednesday that the party will raise the matter with the Election Commission of India (ECI) following Union home minister Amit Shah's warning that Karnataka will be "afflicted with riots" if Congress comes to power in the state. Referring to the assertion as "brazenly intimidatory", Jairam Ramesh said the response of the people to Congress's poll campaign in Karnataka explains Amit Shah's 4-I strategy: Insult, Inflame, Incite & Intimidate."
Shah stated at a public meeting on Tuesday in the Belagavi district of Karnataka that the state's development would be in "reverse gear" if Congress formed the government.
The home minister had stated, "If the Congress comes to power, dynastic politics will be at an all-time high, and Karnataka will be afflicted with riots."
“If Congress comes to power by mistake, then corruption will be at an all-time high and there will be ‘appeasement’,” he added.
"This is a brazenly intimidatory statement," said Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, who was in charge of communications.
“It is now clear that BJP is losing Karnataka decisively. The response of the people to the campaigns of the Congress leadership has been overwhelming. This explains Amit Shah's 4-I strategy: Insult, Inflame, Incite & Intimidate. Shame on Shah! We are raising it with the ECI,” he added.
The Union Home Minister, whose allegiance is to a group that was banned by the first Home Minister of India, is now making threats during an election campaign when he is in danger of losing.
The Congress also criticised Shah on Tuesday for allegedly saying that the upcoming elections in Karnataka are not just about electing MLAs, rather, they are about entrusting Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the state's future.
According to the opposition party, the remarks were an "insult" to 6.5 million Kannadigas.
Voting for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly elections is scheduled on May 10 and the results will be declared three days later.