In Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi slams state govt as ‘country’s most corrupt’

“The Prime Minister used to speak about corruption, but if he speaks about it in Karnataka, the people will laugh as the BJP government in the state is the most corrupt with a 40 per cent commission government,” he added.

“Unemployment and inflation have increased in the country. These are the biggest issues in the country. Even if the BJP wants, they cannot provide jobs to people in the country because they have destroyed the employment-providing sectors,” he said.

On a two-day visit to Karnataka, the Lok Sabha MP from Kerala’s Wayanad held meetings with senior Congress leaders in the state and addressed the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee’s (KPCC) extended executive meeting at the party’s state headquarters in Bengaluru.

“In Karnataka, we should win with a minimum of 150 seats and fight united on the right issues and with merit as criteria,” he said, adding that the biggest responsibility for party leaders Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar, Mallikarjun Kharge and others is to fight together and win the 150 seats.

“We should focus on the youth and women in this election while giving tickets or in the organisation of the party. I have full confidence that the Congress will win with a clear majority and give a government that works for the poor, small traders and all sections,” he said.

Gandhi had on Thursday attended an event marking the 115th birth anniversary of Sri Shivakumar Swamiji, considered a ‘walking God’ in the state’s Tumakuru.

On Friday, the Siddaganga Mutt hosted the main event of the ‘Guru Vandane’ programme to honour Sri Shivakumar Swamiji. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also took part in the event in the morning.

The Siddaganga Mutt is an influential religious institution among the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community in the state. The Lingayats are one of the dominant communities in the state and are estimated to make up about 17 per cent of its population.