Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday in his third visit to costal and Malnad region continued his scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Poll bound Karnataka is experiencing a new political analogy between the Congress and the BJP as the State is important to both of them.
In Padubidre in costal district of Udupi, Rahul said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “insulting” the common man by claiming credit for India’s progress. He also accused the BJP of dividing people despite its talk of dharma.
In his continued tirade against Modi, Rahul accused him (PM) of favouring big businesses men by waiving their loans while ignoring farmers.
He said,”Wherever Narendra Modi goes he says in the last 70 years nothing has happened. He is insulting your parents, poor farmers, labourers, small businessmen of India”. “If this country stands as equal to other countries of the world today, it has not happened in two years. It has taken years of time, sweat and blood of common people. Modi should stop insulting the common man,” he added.
“BJP people talk about dharma, but wherever they go, they divide people by pitting one against the other. On one side they praise Basavanna and Narayana Guru (social reformers), and on the other every day they indulge in things that these two great people fought against,” he said.
Congress chief is visiting Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru (the place gave political re birth to late PM Indira Gandhi), which have a strong BJP presence. He is also visiting Hassan district the strong hold and home district of former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda.
Congress leader said five major banks originated in Udupi district, and said the Congress party’s idea behind that was to take banks to people, and blamed the Modi Government for mounting non-performing assets (NPAs).
He said “We took banks to villages, but if you see today there are NPAs worth lakhs of crore of rupees of rich people.” “About 10-15 rich persons of India have taken away your Rs8 lakh crore. In the last few years, BJP has waived Rs2.5 lakh crore loans taken by 15 rich people... but when a farmer asks for loan waiver Narendra Modi and Arun Jaitley (Finance Minister) say it is not our policy,” he added.”Narendra Modi speaks about Basavanna and Narayana Guru. I want to ask him a question. You speak about Basavanna and Narayana Guru, then why do you differentiate between rich and poorIJ” he said.
Rahul Gandhi who is trying to imitate his new found theory of soft Hindutva after Gujarat has been has visiting religious places during his election tours. This time also according to his itinerary he will pay obeisance at Gokarnatheswara Temple, Rosario Church, Ullal Dargah, Sringeri Sharadamba Temple and also Sringeri Mutt. He will also meet the Shankaracharya of the Sringeri Mutt.
Rahul Gandhi said,” Modi had made three main promises before coming to power. He had promised bring back black money and deposit Rs15 lacs to every Indian’s account. But four years have passed his promise remains unfulfilled and he has failed to deposit even Rs15.”
The Assembly elections in the state are likely in April-May.