Modi hit out at the Congress on the issue, saying when the party's warranty itself has expired, its guarantees have no meaning.
PM Narendra Modi virtually addressing BJP karyakartas in Karnataka. (Screengrab)
As polling day in Karnataka inches closer, the slugfests between the main political parties are intensifying in the state. The BJP and the Congress are increasingly aiming barbs against each other, with the quality of discourse dropping by the day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 27 April, addressed BJP workers virtually, exhorting them to strengthen booth-level campaigning to win with a majority, and made a strong pitch for ending the Congress party’s “revdi culture” (culture of distributing freebies) — a dig at the four “guarantees” the party has offered if it comes to power.
Modi hit out at the Congress on the issue, saying when the party’s “warranty” itself has expired, its guarantees have no meaning.
The Congress hit back soon enough, saying the people of Karnataka will guarantee the end of the “BJP’s 40 percent commission sarkara” on 10 May, and all the promises of the Congress will be implemented.
Targeting the prime minister, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter, “After Amit Shah and Yogi, now it’s Modi’s turn to make outrageous comments due to despair and desperation.”
“On May 10th, people of Karnataka will guarantee the end of the BJP 40% Commission Sarkara. A few days later Congress Guarantees will be implemented like we have in RJ, CH and HP,” he said in a tweet and listed the policies implemented in Congress-ruled states that the party had promised ahead of the polls in those states.
For Karnataka polls, Congress has announced guarantees’ that include 200 units of free power to all households, 10 kg of rice free to every member of BPL households (Anna Bhagya), ₹2,000 monthly assistance to woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), and ₹3,000 every month for graduate youth and ₹1,500 for diploma holders (both in the age group of 18-25) for two years, on coming to power.
The prime minister, in his virtual address, said Opposition-ruled states are getting immersed in debt because of freebies, and emphasised that the country and the governments cannot be run like this.
“In our country some political parties have made politics the means of power and corruption, to achieve this, they are using all means like ‘saam, dham, dhand, bedh’. These political parties don’t think about the future of the country, the future generation of Karnataka, its youth, women,” Modi said.
Modi said because of freebie politics, several states were spending huge amounts of money for the sake of partisan politics, which is eating into the “share” of future generations.
“The country cannot be run like this, governments cannot be run like this. Governments have to think about the future, along with the present. Governments cannot run just for day-to-day needs, they have to work on asset creation so that the lives of families are on track for decades,” he noted during the “Karyakartarondige Samvada” (an interaction with workers).
Modi affirmed that the BJP was not taking shortcuts, but was working for a developed India with good investments in modern physical, digital and social infrastructure, and that his other interpretation for FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) is “First Develop India”.
“BJP doesn’t think about five years of its own rule, but thinks about the country. We don’t think about the party but think about the country. We don’t think just about present electoral politics but about taking India ahead in the next 25 years.”
To address some temporary challenges, all possible help is being provided for the poor, like free ration, and free vaccination, he said and added that it is the duty of the government, “but if we have to make India progress, we have to get rid of this ‘revdi’ culture.”
“I appeal to youth, some parties may try to make you fools by distributing freebies, but it’s your duty to think about your future and that of your future generations….”
Accusing the Congress of engaging in “revdi culture” in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, Modi said, their poll guarantees have remained as guarantees. “Congress means a guarantee of corruption, guarantee of nepotism.”
“Congress has reached a stage where it cannot give true guarantees, you are aware that Congress’s warranty has expired, then what is the meaning of its guarantee,” he added.
“Before BJP launched Operation Kamala to steal the government in 2019, from 2013-2018 the Congress government in Karnataka delivered stable and able governance for five full years. 261 promises delivered in 261 weeks. Congress guarantees performance,” Ramesh said in a series of tweets.
“Rajasthan government’s promises fulfilled: Old Pension Scheme implemented; Indira Gandhi Urban Employment-125 days of work; Right To Health — free emergency treatment in private and govt hospitals; Chiranjeevi Yojana: Rs 25 lakh insurance in private hospitals and ₹10 lakh accidental insurance,” Ramesh also said.
After Amit Shah & Yogi, now it’s Modi’s turn to make outrageous comments due to despair & desperation.
On May 10th, people of Karnataka will guarantee the end of the BJP 40% Commission Sarkara. A few days later Congress Guarantees will be implemented like we have in RJ, CH & HP. pic.twitter.com/tgigfmLmcM
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 27, 2023
“Chhattisgarh Government’s promises fulfilled: Loan waiver: ₹9,270 crore loan of 17.87 lakh farmers waived; ₹2500/quintal for paddy farmers; Rajiv Gandhi Kissan Nyay Yojna: ₹9000/acre input subsidy for farmers; Old Pension Scheme implemented,” he said.
“Himachal Pradesh Government’s promises fulfilled: Old Pension Scheme implemented; ₹1500 minimum to women: 2.5 lakh women have been covered in the first phase,” he said in another tweet.
(With PTI inputs)
May 05, 2024
May 05, 2024
May 05, 2024
May 05, 2024
May 05, 2024
May 05, 2024
