Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018 HIGHLIGHTS: PM Narendra Modi while speaking in Bidar (BJP Twitter)
With polls just days away, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched an all-out attack against the Congress party. Alleging that the Congress party is spreading lies anticipating fear, PM Modi asked people to bid farewell to Congress in Karnataka. He also took potshots against Rahul Gandhi’s ‘PM in 2019 remark’ saying that “Rahul Gandhi is only eyeing the chair of prime minister.” “How can someone just declare himself as the PM? This is simply nothing but arrogance. Will India accept someone immature like this?” he said. He also listed out 6Cs responsible for the damaging the state. “Congress culture, communalism, casteism, corruption, crime and contract system have destroyed Karnataka.”
Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, accused the Modi of making remarks that are “unbecoming of a PM.” “We will never let the BJP-RSS tear apart the pluralistic fabric of our country,” he added. BJP chief Amit Shah is also conducting roadshows in capital city Bengaluru and Tumkur districts.
Meanwhile, day after the discovery of a cache of voter identity cards at an apartment in Bengaluru’s Raja Rajeshwari Nagar constituency, both BJP and Congress accused each other of playing “dirty politics.” The BJP demanded that the elections to the constituency must be immediately cancelled and that the flat owner must be arrested. It also called for a special probe in the incident. Alleging that the saffron party “enacted the drama in an apartment owned by their own leader,” the Congress met the poll body and submitted a memorandum of malpractices undertaken by the government with the help of central agencies including IT department.
A delegation of Dalit MLAs had also met AICC president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi last week. (Source: INC)
PM Modi concluded his last public address before the May 12 polls, urging people to vote for BJP in large numbers. He ended his speech with chants of 'Sarkara badlisi'.
"We have approved stringent punishments including death penalty for those who commit devilish deeds against women. Such things cannot be tolerated at all. Also, making such heinous crimes a political issue is not acceptable," says PM Modi in Bidar.
"Elections after elections, people in every state across India have rejected the Congress. Now it is Karnataka's time to reject them," says PM Modi.
"When Shaeed Bhagat Singh, Batukeshwar Dutt, Veer Savarkar, greats like them were jailed fighting for the country's independence, did any Congress leader went to meet them? But the Congress leaders go and meet the corrupt who have been jailed," says PM Modi.
Leaders of the Congress party believe in photo ops and do not do anything for the betterment of the country," says PM Modi.
Continuing the attack on Congress, PM Modi says, "Congress has always worked for their own goodwill, for their own family. Their actions have deteriorated the condition of the country. The newly elected Congress president has pre-announced that he will become the prime minister of the country in 2019. They think that the prime minister's seat is reserved for just one dynasty."
The affection of people for the BJP across Karnataka is a clear indication that Congress party will be defeated in these elections, says PM Modi. He added, "met youngsters who'd be voting for the first time. Their energy and enthusiasm are commendable. I urge them to make more people aware of voting rights."
Rahul Gandhi offers floral tribute to Kannada actor Dr Rajkumar at his memorial in Bengaluru.
PM Modi on Wednesday will address the SC/ST/OBC and Slum Morcha Karyakartas of BJP via 'Narendra Modi App' at 9 am.
I thank the people of Karnataka for showering their love and blessings upon me. The Congress will emerge victoriously and continue to serve you,'said Rahul Gandhi as he ended his address in Bengaluru.
"Some people have insulted the beautiful city of Bengaluru by calling it a 'garbage city''. We promise to take Bengaluru further along the road of success and help it emerge as one of the world's best cities. The spirit of Bengaluru draws people from across the nation. This is a city where people live fearlessly and in peace. This city celebrates unity in diversity and makes India proud," said Rahul Gandhi during his address in Bengaluru.
Rahul Gandhi attacks the PM’s silence on the rapes in Kathua and Unnao, and on the atrocities against Dalits.
"The situation in the country is deteriorating. Atrocities are perpetrated on Dalits, adivasis and minorities. BJP leaders are spreading hatred across the country, says Rahul Gandhi.
There can be no comparison between Siddaramaiah and Yeddyurappa. Siddaramaiah has served the people honestly while Yeddyurappa has looted money from Karnataka," says Rahul Gandhi in Bengaluru.
BJP leaders address public meetings and boast about their achievements. But the truth is that the BJP govt at the Centre has not done anything for Bengaluru, says Rahul Gandhi. The Congress president says the BJP government has not given Bengaluru even a little bit of money and took three years to list it in the Smart City scheme.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi is currently addresseing a gathering in Bengaluru. “The whole country looks to Bengaluru for progress,” he says.
During his address at Belagavi, PM Modi had asked “Why does the Congress need fake voter IDs? What is the Congress trying to do in Karnataka?”. He also said that the Congress is afraid of technology and that's why it rakes up the issue of EVM tampering each election.
“The 21st century is about embracing technology. We have used technology in the working of the government, which has helped bring transparency,” PM Modi had said.
A BJP delegation comprising Union ministers Smriti Irani, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, JP Nadda, Dharmendra Pradhan and SS Ahluwalia reaches Election Commission over the voter ID issue, reports ANI.
Despite having five rivers, Karnataka faces water scarcity. This is the biggest failure of the current Congress government in the state, says PM Modi. He ends his addess with chants of 'Sarkara Badlisi'
For BJP, it's goal in 'India first', whereas for Congress, it's 'family first', says PM Modi while addressing public meeting in Belagavi.
I fail to understand why ‘only Modi’ is the agenda of the Congress, says PM Modi. “The Chief Minister was campaigning for a Congress candidate whose name is also Narendra... but he only kept saying Narendra Modi and praised Narendra Modi too. The truth seems to have come out,” says the PM.
When leaders put out advertisements on their rallies, it is assumed lot of people will join. The Congress only writes- corner meetings...this shows people do not want to connect with them, says PM Modi.
Congress knows that they will lose the elections, that's why they are resorting to undemocratic ways, says PM Modi while referring to the recovery of thousands of allegedly fake voter identity cards in Karnataka.
"Congress party is shrinking. It has been removed from every corner from India," says PM Modi in Belagavi. "But the Congress does not know that it has also been removed from the hearts of the people," he added. "I expected that Congress, its CM and other leaders who have come from Delhi will talk about its achievements, what it has done in last five years in Karnataka. But have they done that? No," insisted the prime minister.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently addressing a public meeting in Belagavi. This is his second address of the day in the poll-bound state of Karnataka.
The Siddaramaiah government will resort to all kinds of unscrupulous activities in the election. Their ministers are distributing money to influence voters. Fake voter ID Cards were found. Election Commission should take this seriously. Trends are in favor of BJP. We will form the government with absolute majority, ANI quotes UP CM Yogi Adityanath as saying.
A BJP delegation comprising Union Ministers Smriti Irani, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, JP Nadda and Dharmendra Pradhan will meet Election Commission at 6 pm today over the issue of 9,746 voter identity cards found in bundles in a Bengaluru flat, reports ANI.
"Congress and JDS are supporting each other. This just shows their desperation to win the elections. People are going to vote for the BJP on May 12 and Congress is going to lose," says Amit Shah.
"Prakash Javdekar is lying to the people of Karnataka and to Election Commission. The owner of the flat in which voter IDs were recovered, Manjula Nanjamari has clearly stated that she was never with the Congress. She has been campaigning for BJP," says Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala.
Deputy Election Commissioner, Chandra Bhushan Kumar, to visit poll-bound state of Karnataka, reports ANI. This comes after nearly 10,000 "fake" voter ID cards were seized from a flat in Rajrajeshwari Assembly seat, prompting the BJP to demand countermanding of the election claiming Congress was behind the racket, a charge dismissed by the latter as a "lie".
'Congress Party should be ashamed of themselves! Everything about their party is fake- their tears for the poor, their claims of development, their commitment to social justice. Now the Congress is using fake voter IDs to create fictitious voters and rig the 2018 Karnataka polls,'says BJP chief Amit Shah.
He also said that it is in the best interest of country's democratic traditions that the Election Commission ensures free and fair polling in Rajarajeshwarinagar and other parts of the state. 'The hopes and aspirations of the people of Karnataka cant be held hostage to the machinations of the Congress,' he said on Twitter.
Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily has meanwhile exuded confidence, saying his party would retain power in Karnataka with absolute majority. "We will win with absolute majority. We already have 137 MLAs (in the 224-member Assembly), including seven who have come from JDS and another six or seven independents. We will easily get 147 to 150 (seats in the May 12 Assembly polls)," Moily told PTI.
"The BJP webbed a fake midnightdrama, hurling innuendoes and false allegations as also misused the government agencies, particularly Income Tax Department to intimidate Congress candidates has become the norm for BJP in Karnataka. It is also pertinent to mention that there are several reports appearing that certain BJP candidates are distributing money with impunity," said Congress in its letter to the Election Commission.
The party requested the Election Commission
-to initiate the process of prosecution against perpetrators of crime including BJP leaders for committing an offence of personation at elections under Section 171D of the IPC;
-to direct the CEO and concerned government agencies including IT department to restrain from any prejudicial action against KPCC and its leaders without prior permission till end of the assembly elections.
-to take all such actions as are necessary in law for holding a free and fair elections in Karnataka;
The Congress Party has written a letter to the Election Commission, saying the recovery of Voter ID cards from a flat belonging to "BJP associates" in Raja Rajeshwari Nagar Assembly constituency in Karnataka was a "fake, concorted and fabricated midnight drama enacted by the BJP with the sole intent of to impede free and fair elections".
"Income Tax department conducted raids in Badami. Huge stashes of cash and jewellery were seized. Such acts of Congress are defaming Badami and entire Karnataka. Making multiple fake voter ID Cards to win elections is the tactic of Congress, people should never forgive such party. Fearing a crushing defeat, Congress is indulging in all kinds of malpractices," said PM Modi.
Rahul Gandhi claimed that when the UPA was in power, it had given Bengaluru Rs 10,000 crore for development, but the Modi government gave the state just Rs 550 crore. Gandhi also added, "We will never let the BJP-RSS tear apart the pluralistic fabric of our country."
Congress has absolutely no respect for many of our prominent institutions. Congress leaders are out on bail in a 'Rs. 5000 crore scam'. They now question the judiciary and even call for impeachment of the Chief Justice. They think, if it moves an impeachment motion against CJI, all lower courts will fall in line: PM Modi
They are not able to accept the defeat and hence blame the EVM, poll panel. When the CAG exposes scam, they start accusing the body of targeting the party. When the Congress is at fault, it starts passing the buck to NIA, CBI. Everyone is wrong, only Congress is right. When our army conducts surgical strikes, instead to appreciating the valour of our Jawans, Congress shamefully calls them wrong and asks for proof. When the World Bank and other rating agencies present reports on India's easing business environment and the country's growth, then also Congress alleges that they are wrong: PM Modi
Rahul Gandhi says that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay his tribute to BR Ambedkar, he stays quiet when people from SC and ST communities are attacked. "People will throw out Narendra Modi and the BJP from Karnataka first, followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh," Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi also raked up Union minister Anant Kumar Hegde's comments about changing the Constitution. "A minister in Narendra Modi's Cabinet says we will change the Constituion. Whatever happens, we won't let that happen," the Congress president said. Last December, Hegde courted controversy after he said the BJP was here to change the statute. "Some people say the Constitution says secular and you must accept it. We are here to change the Constitution and we'll change it," Hegde had said.
Targeting Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi said that he is not bothered about the Congress party, Congress culture. "The 'naamdaar' of Congress keeps getting promoted even if he doesn't do anything. He was made General Secretary of the party in '07. He said he'll make a young team & bring new ideas, it has been 11 yrs & things are still what they used to be. He only about the chair of prime minister. He thinks that the chair is reserved for only one family. "They barely have 40 seats in the Parliament. They have been losing elections continuously. But look at the arrogance that they have. The party has no association with the principles of democracy."