PM talking like a Bajrang Dal worker, fears he’ll lose: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
PM talking like a Bajrang Dal worker, fears he’ll lose: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
BELAGAVI: Chief minister Siddaramaiah criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “speaking like a Bajrang Dal worker” during his election rallies, accusing him of polarising voters on religion instead of discussing his achievements over the past 10 years.
At a press conference on Sunday — barely 48 hours before the second phase of polling in 14 seats predominantly in North Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said Modi’s behaviour suggests “frustration about potentially losing these elections”. He urged the PM to focus on his achievements and promises which he has met — “if any” — rather than “engaging in politics of hatred, division, and vindictiveness”.
He accused the PM of consistently lying in election rallies, saying it brought disrepute to his office and lowered the dignity of the post of PM. Siddaramaiah highlighted the contradiction between Modi’s recent remarks that the Constitution is “his religious book” and the ideology of BJP’s parent organisation RSS which he said is “bent on rewriting the Constitution”.
He pointed out that several BJP MPs have openly said the Constitution will be changed if NDA secures 400 seats in the Lok Sabha, while RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has “instructed swayamsevakss to be patient” as they will “eventually alter the current Constitution”. “So, these polls are another freedom movement to protect the Constitution, which gives equal opportunities to all,” he said.
‘BJP against guarantees’ | Siddaramaiah accused BJP of conspiring to halt his govt’s five guarantee schemes. He said initially, BJP functionaries claimed that implementing the guarantees “would be financially impossible”. “Subsequently, they asserted that it would lead to insolvency and hinder development in the state,” he said.
“Now, they are deceiving people by suggesting that the guarantees will be scrapped after the Lok Sabha elections.” He said he has allocated Rs 56,000 crore for the five schemes in the budget for the fiscal 2024-25. “Besides, we have allocated Rs 68,000 crore for capital expenditure including development work,” he said.
“BJP which is anti-poor, anti-farmer, anti-labourer and anti-women is making false allegations and misleading people.” He said BJP will never waive farm loans. BJP stole ‘guarantee’ word: DKS | Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said the ongoing elections is a battle between “truth and falsehood” and accused BJP of being so “idea bankrupt” that it even “stole the word guarantee” from Congress. He said Karnataka has set an example for the nation by effectively executing the guarantees.
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