Stating that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is daydreaming to become the prime minister of the country, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed apprehension that “there will be a bloodbath if Modi is elected to head the Union government.”
Addressing a party workers’ convention organised by the Bangalore District Congress Committee here on Tuesday to mark the 96th birth anniversary of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, Siddaramaiah exhorted the people to see that the ‘country would be saved by keeping BJP at bay and out of power’.
“The level of brutality the Sangh Parivar workers stooped to during Godhra riots against the members of one particular community was unparalleled,” he claimed.
‘Modi spreading falsehood’
Coming down heavily on his Gujarat counterpart, he alleged, “Modi is touring across the country spreading falsehood.”
Taking strong objection to Modi’s claim that the IT and BT sectors took root in Bangalore and other parts of the country thanks to the pro-active policy adopted by the NDA government, headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Siddaramaiah said, “The entire world knows who was responsible for the IT revolution in the country. It is none other than Rajiv Gandhi.”
“Narendra Modi and his BJP associates are misleading the people on various issues,” he alleged.
Advising Modi to do good homework before saying anything, he chided,”One should not resort to utter aing nything just because he knows the art of delivering speech.”
Maintaining that the economy of Gujarat did not improve though Modi is in the saddle for more than 12 years, Siddaramaiah charged that the BJP men and Modi are following Goebbel’s theory and trying to fool the countrymen.
“Their plan will not work as people are aware of their ill designs” he claimed.
“Basically, Modi was molded as a volunteer and campaigner for the RSS and his mentors are deploying him to spread falsehood and lies across the country,” Siddaramaiah ridiculed.
Referring to BJP’s ‘Bharatha Gellisi’ rally, he said that the programme did not yield the desired results for the BJP men in Karnataka despite ferrying people from all parts of the country.
“The BJP leaders are a worried lot now as Modi’s rally failed to refurbish the image of saffron party which was hit by corruption here,” he said.
Criticising Modi for his failure in touching the core issues of agriculture crisis, poverty, unemployment, Siddaramaiah said, “Choking communal passion was the only agenda of the BJP and its Sangh Parivar.”
The people will repose faith in Congress in the Lok Sabha election and the party would win a minimum of 20 seats out of the total seats of 28. The masses are observing the pro-people programmes of the state government, he said.
BJP’s number claim questioned
KPCC president G Parameshwara, who also addressed the gathering, also targetted Modi and contested the claim of the BJP leaders on the number of people who participated at the ‘Bharatha Gellisi’ rally.
“Only about 80,000 to 1 lakh people gathered on Sunday. But the BJP leaders falsely claimed that about 3.5 lakh people took part in the rally,” he alleged.
He said the party would suitably reward those who work hard in the Lok Sabha election.
Kharge hails Indira Gandhi
Union railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge, who also spoke on the occasion, described Indira Gandhi as the messiah of downtrodden and poorer sections of the society.
“Indira Gandhi had not only strove hard for the upliftment of the voiceless, but also made the country proud in the world by making it self-sufficient in food production and developed it as a strong and vibrant economy,” he appreciated.
Rajya Sabha member B K Hariprasad, transport minister Ramalinga Reddy, food and civil supplies minister R Gundu Rao and other leaders were present on the occasion.
Awards presented to achievers
The works of former prime minister Indira Gandhi should be etched in golden letters said, former union minister M V Rajashekharan said. He was speaking at a programme organised to present Indira priyadarshini by International, Integrity, Peace and Friendship Society here on Tuesday.
Eleven people from different walks of life, including DIG (Prisons) V S Raja were given the award.
Former MP Bimba Raikar was present.