Despite attempts by BJP leaders to pacify him, former Deputy Chief Minister KS Eshwarappa skipped PM Modi’s rally in his hometown of Shivamogga.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi waving toward the people during a rally at Shivamogga on Monday. (Supplied)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, 18 March, delivered a scathing critique of Congress party, urging the electorate in Karnataka to give BJP all 28 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
His attack was during his maiden visit to Karnataka’s Malnad region as part of the saffron party’s campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Modi addressed the voters of Shivamogga, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Davanagere and Dakshina Kannada at Shivamogga on Monday.
In his nearly an-hour-long address, Modi condemned the Congress for its alleged “corruption, deceitful promises, and attempts to sow discord among communities”.
He also attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for the second time on the same day over the latter saying that the Opposition bloc would fight against “Shakti”.
Earlier in the day, during a meeting in Telangana, he said: “The INDIA bloc leaders say that they would fight against Shakti. But I adore and worship Shakti. Each mother and sister is Shakti to me. I am Shakti’s pujari.”
He was accompanied by the BJP’s Karnataka unit leaders including its chief BY Vijayendra, former chief minister BS Yediyurappa and former minister CT Ravi.
Despite extending an invitation to former deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa, he did not turn up for the prime minister’s event as he is upset with Yediyurappa and his family for not making efforts to get a ticket for his son Kantesh for the Haveri-Gadag seat.
Kick-starting his speech in Kannada, Modi said: “In Karnataka, the BJP is getting abundant support and it appears like the entire ground is filled with energy. On the other hand, the INDI alliance, which is busy in corruption and appeasement, has lost its sleep.”
“Shivamogga is a land where nobody used to recognise us during the Jana Sangh period and neither there used to be a municipality member. In such a time, Yediyurappa gave his entire youth (to grow the party). It’s his workplace,” recalled the prime minister.
An indication of Karnataka’s mood can be seen at the massive rally in Shivamogga. People are already frustrated with Congress’ poor governance. pic.twitter.com/vXDc0qSIMp
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 18, 2024
He further said: “From this seat and all the other seats of Karnataka, the people have to elect and send the brand ambassadors of the Modi development. I have come here to pray to you to bless all the 28 seats to the BJP-led NDA alliance.”
“In the mission 400 on 4 June, the voters of Karnataka have a big role to play. The mission 400 is for Vikshit Bharat, Vikshit Karnataka, lessen poverty, to attack terror, probe against corruption, development of farmers and new opportunities for youth,” he said.
Taking a dig at the Congress, Modi said: “On the other hand, the Congress does not have an agenda on development. Therefore, they play various tricks. The Congress’ first trick is to lie, repeat the lie and then lie wherever they go.”
“The second one is they cover up the first lie with a much bigger lie. The third trick is when they get caught put the blame on a third person,” he claimed.
The prime minister also slammed the INDIA bloc over Rahul Gandhi’s description of the might of the state as ‘Shakti’. Gandhi said that ‘Shakti’ said had traded the soul and integrity of EVMs to the king, implying Modi.
Modi said: “The INDIA alliance made an open announcement at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Sunday. They want to end Shakti (power), which is a part of Hindu religion. They have taken the task of finishing Hindu Shakti. If their moto is to destroy Shakti our moto is to worship it.”
To divide society is an old Congress trick and the consequences have been disastrous. pic.twitter.com/KvPaslfDAS
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 18, 2024
“I was taken aback when I heard the announcement to destroy Shakti at Shivaji Park. That would have hurt late Shiva Sena founder Balasaheb Thackery. They are announcing the destruction of Shakti in Shivaji Park. That too in the land where every child grows up with a mantra Jai Shivaji, Jai Bhavani,” charged Modi.
He further said: “Chatarapathi Shivaji Maharaj with the blessings of Goddess Tulajabhavani left to establish Hindu Swaraj. He was a worshiper of Shakti.”
“For me, the country’s women are a direct reflection of this Shakti. That’s why, our government schemes reflect top priority to women empowerment,” reiterated the Prime Minister.
He claimed that no previous governments had given importance to women’s empowerment as his government did.
“We have named the point where Chandrayaan had touched down as Shiva Shakti,” he said.
“Political experts have said that women are the silent voters of Modi. For me, they are not just voters but my biggest strength. Women’s blessings are my biggest protection,” he added.
“The Congress has threatened this shakti. It will be answered by every mother, daughter and sisters and worshipers of Shakti. They will learn the lesson of threatening Shakti on 4 June,” stated Modi.
Modi alleged that the Congress made Karnataka their “ATM” after they were elected to power in the state.
Modi said: “At times they blame the Union government or Modi or they blame their failures on other parties. They intend to never help people.”
He further said: “Their loot is so rampant that no money has been left with them to run the government and many are fighting to be part of this group.”
“There are some people who waiting to be the chief minister, someone is aspirant for the CM’s post, someone is super CM, shadow CM. In the midst of all these CMs, there is a collection minister at Delhi,” claimed the prime minister.
“In the midst of such attitude from the Congress, it is necessary for the victory in every Lok Sabha seat for the BJP-NDA alliance in Karnataka. The BJP-NDA MPs will work for the people of this state and proper implementation of schemes sponsored by the Union government,” he added.
Modi attacked the Congress over its Bengaluru Rural MP DK Suresh’s recent remarks over fiscal injustice meted out by the Union government.
Modi said: “The Congress will go to any extent to get to power. Britishers have left India but the Congress still has the mindset of Britishers. They have left their will — divide and rule — to the Congress.”
“Congress first divided the country, caste, religion, region and language. To come to power they have divided and distributed the country. Even after all this the Congress is not satisfied and is playing a dangerous game to divide the country,” charged Modi.
“Karnataka will not allow this kind of conspiracy to succeed. The Congress, which insults the land of Karnataka, should be taught a lesson in the Lok Sabha polls,” the Prime Minister appealed to voters.
The prime minister claimed that the poor people in the country became poorer after the independence because of the systems set up by the Congress.
“The poor became poorer after the Independence because of the system set up by the Congress. The rights of the poor were snatched,” he claimed.
“The Congress always made the poor of the country suffer for the basic facilities. In the last ten years, we worked to change the fate of the poor and around 50 crore people have come out of poverty. It was possible as we focused on the problems of the poor,” Modi said and claimed that 50 crore poor have been lifted from poverty.
“For the first time in the history of independent India, the BJP has made people from SC and ST communities the President of the nation. When you vote for the BJP, it will be for social justice,” he said.
He continued: “It is for the first time that India has reached a stage where people across the globe are discussing the modern infrastructure in our country.”
“Bharat is now being recognised by highspeed trains such as Vande Bharat, NaMo Bharat, metro, underwater metro, highspeed internet, 5G, UPI technology, green corridors, express highways,” he claimed.
“In the next five years, the development works will be fast-paced and the country will witness these decisions, which never happened in the past. The country will also become the third biggest economy in the world in the next five years,” Modi said.
He also detailed various programmes introduced by the BJP-led Union government in the last 10 years for the welfare of the people from all the communities.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
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