When Narendra Modi assumed office as prime minister in 2014, he called himself “pradhan sevak” (primary servant) of the people of India. Cut to 2023, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda seemingly believes that states like Karnataka need Modi’s “blessings”.
Modi may be delivering one speech after another about “competitive, cooperative federalism”, but Nadda, during his speech on Wednesday, 19 April, gave complete credit to Modi’s “blessings” for the development in Karnataka.
He also asked voters of the state to choose the BJP if they didn’t want to “lose out on Modi’s blessings”.
The BJP national president’s comments came under severe fire by Opposition parties and civil society members in Karnataka alike for the purported insinuation.
“I appeal to you to vote for @BJP4India so that Karnataka is not devoid of @narendramodi‘s blessings,” says party president @JPNadda during his public address in Haveri. pic.twitter.com/GqtBnocB4i
— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) April 19, 2023
Also read: Nadda launches Vijaya Sankalpa Ratha Yatre in Karnataka
Remarks and reaction
Addressing a public rally in Haveri on Wednesday after a roadshow ahead of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s nomination filing, Nadda urged voters to give Bommai five more years in power.
Everything he said was typical of a poll campaign speech. Everything except when he urged the people of Karnataka not to lose out on the “blessings” of Modi.
“I have not come here to just seek votes for Bommai but I have come to ask you to vote for the lotus (the BJP’s election symbol) so the river of development continues to flow in Karnataka. I appeal to you to vote for the BJP so that Karnataka does not lose out on Modiji’s blessings,” Nadda told the gathering.
By Wednesday evening, the Congress claimed Nadda’s comments were “an attack on democracy” and “threats to the people of Karnataka”.
BJP President J.P. Nadda threatens to withhold constitutional rights from the people of Karnataka if they don’t vote for the corrupt 40% BJP govt.
This is a blatant attack on democracy and shows how the BJP plans to treat the Kannadigas.
We are not subjects of a Raja but… pic.twitter.com/N9iXBfMoWE
— Congress (@INCIndia) April 19, 2023
Several other netizens from Karnataka and even outside it also sought to know what the BJP national president meant by the word “blessing” to define the relationship between the prime minister and voters in a democracy.
Others asked if the Central government would treat Karnataka differently based on the electoral outcomes of the 10 May Assembly polls.
indirectly saying if you don’t vote for them your state will be neglected https://t.co/0kKSXOGRzD
— •..• (@Nuzhatw24) April 19, 2023
BJP President is threatening Karnataka won’t get Modi’s “blessings” if they vote for Congress. They neither understand democracy, nor federalism. And Modi’s blessings? Prime Ministerial responsibility is now head priest’s blessings? https://t.co/Ew5VxYf0jJ
— SanjayKJha (@whoskj2) April 19, 2023
It is a vieled threat that if you don’t vote BJP the union government under the BJP will ensure step motherly treatment to Kannadigas https://t.co/QF2vN9EqTL
— ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್ | Abhishek (@gundigre) April 19, 2023
Oh ho…
So is this official admission that any state that doesn’t vote bjp doesn’t have the prime minister’s “blessings”? https://t.co/pOhrJo81kO
— Social Justice:சமூகநீதி (@Sathyantweets) April 19, 2023
