In final rally for Karnataka polls, agitated PM Modi makes ‘secessionist’ charge against Congress

Modi’s all-out agitated attack against the Congress comes soon after he accused the rival party of “surrendering to terrorism” and invoked the controversial movie The Kerala Story to drum up his “terror” pitch.

“When it comes to working against India’s interests, the Congress’ ‘royal family’ will be at the forefront. I want to speak about a serious issue here, I want to say it as there is a lot of pain in my heart. This country can never forgive such a game. This family, to influence the politics in the country, is encouraging foreign forces to interfere,” Modi claimed.

South First final pre-poll survey: Possible simple majority for Congress

Attack on ‘first family of Congress

Addressing the public meeting in Nanjangud in the Mysuru district, he accused the Congress leaders of “secretly meeting foreign diplomats who hate India”.

He added that the Congress’ “first family” repeatedly indulged in activities that “insult India’s sovereignty without shame”.

Stating that in this Karnataka election, the Congress’s ‘shahi parivar’ had gone a step ahead “breaking all the limits and crushing the feelings of the country”, Modi said, “Not only Karnataka, I want to tell this to the entire country with lot of pain that in this election Congress’ ‘shahi parivar’ yesterday came to Karnataka and said that they want to protect the “sovereignty” of Karnataka.”

He continued, without taking any names: “Karnataka’s sovereignty, you know what is the meaning of it? They have sat in Parliament for so many years, they have taken oath on India’s Constitution, and they say this… When a country becomes independent that country is called a sovereign country. The meaning of what Congress is saying is that the Congress believes that Karnataka is separate from India.”

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‘Congress openly advocating for secession’

Asking people whether they approved of it and whether they would punish the Congress for such a statement, the prime minister said it meant that the Congress was openly advocating for separating Karnataka from India.

“I had never thought that the disease of the tukde-tukde gang would reach the Congress’ top level,” he said, accusing the party of insulting Kannada fighters who fought for India’s independence and insulting the patriotism of crores of Kannadigas.

Noting that this was the land where ‘Rashtra Kavi’ Kuvempu had said Karnataka was an integral part of India with the lines in the state anthem,

“Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate Jaya he Karnataka Maate,” Modi said, “For every Kannadiga, Karnataka is a mother and she has been described as the daughter of ‘Bharat ma’. I can feel the feelings of Kannadigas.”

Insulting the feelings of Karnataka was like insulting the “culture and pride” of the state, he added.

Modi’s attack against the Congress and allegations of “secessionist tendencies” came a day after UPA chairperson and former AICC president Sonia Gandhi addressed her only rally in poll-bound Karnataka.

(With PTI inputs)

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