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Journalism of Courage
A day after Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first PM to “cry” in front of people, the Congress on Monday trended the “CryPMPayCm” hashtag on social media.
Speaking at a rally in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, Vadra said: “I am seeing such a PM for the first time who comes in front of you and cries that he was being abused. Rather than hearing your grievances, he narrates his woes. Someone in PM Modi’s office has compiled a list, which is not about the problems faced by the people. That list is about the number of times someone has abused Modi. At least the list fits just a page. If you look at the abuse hurled by them (BJP leaders) at my family, and if we start making lists, we will have to print book after book after book.”
Taking a cue from Priyanka, Congress leaders started hitting out at the PM. The leaders also carried forward an earlier campaign about alleged corruption in the incumbent Karnataka government. In September 2022, posters had sprung up across Bengaluru with QR codes and “PayCM” captions after allegations surfaced of the Basavaraj Bommai-led government pocketing 40 % commission from government contracts.
On Sunday, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala posted a video of Priyanka’s speech and wrote, “The #CryPMPayCM should start listening to People of #Karnataka ! This is the only Raj Dharma.” He added that Kannadigas seek “accountability, answers, a corruption free government”, for which they “need a new vision… (and) Congress guarantees!”
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After the BJP released its poll manifesto on Monday, Congress leader Srivatsa B Y tweeted, “After not fulfilling 90% of their manifesto promises made in 2018, the #CryPMPayCM 40% Commission BJP Govt has released another BOGUS Manifesto”.
“Every voter in Karnataka knows about the 5 Guarantees of Congress. Congress government from 2013-18 fulfilled 90% of the promises we had made. Voters know that,” he added.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted, “People of Karnataka shall defeat the 40% Commission Govt and elect a 100% Commitment Govt under Congress”.
His son Priyank Kharge, the Congress MLA from Chittapur wrote, “PM has enough time to read fabricated list of 91 times that Opposition has called him names,but did not find time to read a serious letter written by a registered contractors association that BJP Govt is seeking 40% Commision in K’taka… PM lies to divert attention. #CryPM #PayCM”
Congress National Convenor Ruchira Chaturvedi shared posters of ‘Cry PM’ and ‘Pay CM’ and wrote, “What the BJP is offering to the people of Karnataka – #CryPMPayCM”.
The DMK also joined in, with the party’s official spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai saying that Priyanka’s statement has become a “headache for the BJP”. “All the time the Prime Minister is crying, he is crying that he has been insulted 91 times, if we count the number of times our family has been disrespected, we have to write a book!” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking to news agency ANI, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said, “The PM has never cried. It is the Congress who has been crying for the past 9 years. People also don’t have sympathy for them.”
