Congress tried to hide Swaminathan report on farmers, let down Dalits, disrespected soldiers : PM Modi at Karnataka rally
Kalaburagi, Karnataka, May 3 (IBNS) : At a time when the Congress is out to highlight the plight of farmers and Dalits under the BJP rule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday tried to turn the heat on his rivals in poll-bound Karnataka, raising the issues for a counter offensive.
Modi, who was addressing a rally at Kalaburugi on the second leg of his election campaign in the state, accused the Congress of sitting tight over the Saminathan Commission report that recommended ways to uplift the condition of farmers.
The PM also reiterated his party's oft-repeated allegation that Congress had disrepcted the sacrifices of soldiers by questioning the veracity of surgical strike.
"My job is to worry for the farmers ...for several years, Congress government tried to hide the Swaminathan Comission report in the cupboard," he said.
"You may not be able to speak the truth, but at least you can keep quiet, " Modi said.
Modi's reference to Swaminathan report was in response to the Congress effort to build up a movement cashing in on the series of suicides by farmers and the woes they have been facing because of drought, heavy loan burden and lack of adequate government support.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi leads the move having addressed several Kisan rallies in different states, launching a virulent attack on the Modi Government for being 'apathetic' to the plight of peasants.
The PM also said in Karnataka the Congress has let down the Dalits by not choosing someone from the community as its Chief Ministerial candidate.
" Last time Congress promised to make Kharge CM, but did not keep their word. Did they not let down the Dalits of the state," he said in an obvious attempt to ruffle the Dalit sentiment against Congress, which has decided to retain present Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as the party's face in the coming Assembly elections.
Reiterating that Congress doesn’t respect the sacrifices of the country's soldiers, Modi said : " When our soldiers carried out surgical strikes, the Congress party questioned them. They kept on asking proof of the strikes from me."
Modi said the coming election in the state will decide the future of Karnataka. "It is about security of women, the development of farmers. Do not assume this is only about electing MLAs, it is much more than that."
The Prime Minister began his second leg of campaign for Karnataka in May 1, addressing three rallies in Chamrajanagar, Udupi and Belagavi district that covered 48 assembly constituencies. He launched a blistering attack on the Congress and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as he floated “2+1” theory to target the “dynasty Congress”.
Siddaramiah is contesting from two assembly seats, Chamundeshwari and Badami, while his son is a Congress candidate from Varuna.
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