Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that the Congress and its leaders have hurled various types of abuse at him 91 times since its president M Mallikarjun Kharge's'venomous snake' remark.
The Prime Minister accused the Congress of abusing the dominant Lingayat community in poll-bound Karnataka, and added that the grand old party had also abused Babasaheb Ambedkar and was currently abusing Veer Savarkar, and people would respond to their abuses with votes.
On his first visit to the state for campaigning since elections were declared on March 29, Modi introduced a new slogan for the party, ‘Ee baariya nirdhara, Bahumatada BJP Sarkara' (This time's decision; majority BJP government), emphasising the party's return to power with a full majority.
Modi's emphasis on the BJP receiving a clear mandate in the May 10 Assembly elections is significant, as the party did not receive a majority in both 2008 and 2018, when it emerged as the single largest party, and had to form government with the support of MLAs from the opposition ranks who switched loyalty to it and Independents.
The Congress despises anyone who speaks out about the common man, exposes their corruption, or criticises their selfish politics. “Contress' hatred for such people will last forever.” The Congress has started abusing me again in this election.” “Someone has made a list of such abuses against me and it has been sent to me,” he said at a public rally in Humnabad, Bidar district. 91 times, members of Congress have abused me in various ways. Instead of wasting time on this dictionary of abuses, Congress would not be in such a sorry state if its members had focused their efforts on good governance and raising the morale of its employees.” Kharge compared Modi to a venomous snake during a campaign rally in Karnataka on Thursday. As a controversy erupted, he later apologised, saying that his intention was not to offend anyone and that his “statement was not for PM Modi, but for the ideology he represents.” “Insulting those who work for the poor and the country is Congress' history,” Modi said.
“I'm not the only one who's been attacked in this manner. They ran a campaign last election saying ‘Chowkidar chor hai' (Watchman is a thief), then they said ‘Modi Chor,' then they said ‘OBC community is chor,' and now, as the election season has begun in Karnataka, they have the audacity to call my Lingayat brothers and sisters ‘chor.'” “Whenever you have abused someone, Congress people have punished you in such a way that you have not been able to withstand it.” Karnataka has decided to respond to the abuses, the pain inflicted on their pride, this time through votes,” he said.
Noting that top Congress leaders have abused him, Modi stated that the Congress is a party that has also abused Babasaheb Ambedkar.
“Babasaheb Ambedkar himself once stated in detail that Congress abused him on numerous occasions.” Babasaheb Ambedkar was dubbed “Rakshas,” “Rashtra Drohi,” and “Dagabaaz Dost” by the Congress. You'll be surprised to learn. Even now, we can see how Congress mistreats Veer Savarkar. “Congress has abused this country's stalwarts,” he said.
“Looking at this, I get the impression that Congress' respects' me in the same way that it abused Babasaheb Ambedkar, Veer Savarkar. It feels like a gift to me. Let Congress abuse me; I will keep working for the country and its people. All of their abuses will become mud with your (people's) blessings. “Congresspeople understand that no matter how much mud you throw at us, the lotus (BJP symbol) will bloom,” he added.
Later, at a rally in Kudachi, Belagavi district, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the party would return to power with a landslide victory.
He stated that this was his third rally on the first day of his campaigning in the state since the election was declared, and it appears that the people of Karnataka have decided to install a strong and stable BJP government.
“Ee baariya nirdhara, Bahumatada BJP Sarkara- is heard everywhere…” Lotus is a symbol of Karnataka's progress, and only the BJP has a development plan,” he added.
Earlier, during his Humnabad rally, Modi highlighted the consequences of unstable and coalition governments, emphasising the importance of majority rule. “The focus of an unstable government would not be on serving the people,” he explained.
Reminding former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who admitted as the head of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government that he was working at the “mercy of Congress,” he said, “That fear of saving the seat or power will not allow them to do anything for you.” Modi claimed that Congress was abusing him and that he had shut down all of its sources of corruption. He claimed that only the BJP can provide a stable and strong government in Karnataka.
“Modi has put a stop to Congress's corruption.” Congress is synonymous with corruption. While the Congress account has ‘Corruption Kaal,' the BJP account has ‘Amrit Kaal' (golden period). Because all of Congress's sources of corruption have been closed, they are chanting ‘Modi teri kabar khudegi' (Modi, your grave will be dug). “People are ensuring lotus blooms while Congress is busy digging Modi's grave,” he said.
Earlier, while speaking at a rally in Vijayapura, the Prime Minister slammed former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, claiming that the Congress leader was seeking votes in the name of his retirement from active politics.
He claims that the people of Karnataka will not vote for a “tired and defeated” Congress, but for a BJP brimming with enthusiasm.
Modi's remark was directed at Siddaramaiah, 75, who recently announced that this would be his final election and that he would not run again.
