Karnataka elections: Congress petitions EC to direct police to file case against PM Modi over ‘false statement’

They also said that it was prejudicial to national integration and maintenance of harmony.

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BJP vs Congress

In a blistering attack on the Congress for former party chief Sonia Gandhi’s “Karnataka’s sovereignty” remarks, Modi — during his last campaign rally ahead of the 10 May Assembly polls — accused the party of openly advocating for “separating” Karnataka from India.

The prime minister’s charge came a day after Sonia Gandhi addressed a campaign rally at Hubballi on Saturday.

The Congress, referring to her speech in a tweet, said, “The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka’s reputation, sovereignty or integrity.”

https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1654882853744787456

It added that Gandhi, who is the Congress’s Parliamentary Party Chairperson, “sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas”. It also posted pictures of Gandhi speaking at the public meeting.

Modi, apparently citing this, alleged that the disease of the “tukde-tukde gang” (referring to alleged anti-national elements) had reached the Congress’s top level.

What did Modi say?

In his attack on the Congress in his last campaign rally, Modi accused the party of openly advocating for “separating” Karnataka from India.

A visibly angry Modi levelled allegations of secessionist tendencies against the Congress, insisting that the “disease” of the “tukde-tukde gang” had reached the party’s top level.

Modi’s all-out attack against the Congress came soon after he accused the 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.

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Attack on Congress ‘first family’

Addressing the public meeting in Nanjangud, he alleged Congress leaders were “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 the Congress’s “shahi parivar” (royal family) had gone a step ahead “breaking all the limits and crushing the feelings of the country”, Modi said: “In this election, the Congress’ ‘shahi parivar’ yesterday came to Karnataka and said that they want to protect the ‘sovereignty’ of Karnataka.”

He continued: “Karnataka’s sovereignty, you know what that means? 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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