Nanjangud, May 7 (UNI) Likening Congress to what he called the "tukde-tukde" gang, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the grand old party of openly advocating the separation of Karnataka from India.
"Yesterday during a campaign in this election, the Royal Family of the Congress said they want to protect the sovereignty of Karnataka. It means they are openly advocating to part Karnataka from India. I never thought that the disease of tukde-tukde gang would reach so high in the Congress," he said, addressing his last election rally in the runup to the May 10 assembly election in Karnataka.
Modi alleged the Congress is insulting lakhs of Kannada freedom fighters who contributed to India's freedom struggle. "Congress divided brothers. The Congress made the states fight among themselves. The Congress left no stone unturned to fan caste and communal fire in the country," he said.
Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi's London statement, he said the Royal Family of the Congress is at the forefront when it comes to working against India's interests as they "openly incite foreign powers to interfere in India to influence politics".
During his visit to London, Rahul Gandhi had said at a discussion: "Democracy in India is a global, public good. It impacts way further than our boundaries. If Indian democracy collapses, in my view, democracy on the planet suffers a very serious, possibly fatal blow. So, it is important for you too. It is not just important for us. We will deal with our problem, but you must be aware that this problem is going to play out on a global scale.”
Trying to make political capital out of Rahul's remarks, the BJP later accused him of seeking the interference of US and European nations in India's internal affairs.
Modi said the spirits of terrorists and criminals get high when Congress comes to power. "In Congress rule, terrorists and criminals are convinced that Congress has a hand on them. We have seen time and again that for the sake of appeasement, Congress openly comes down in support of terrorists," he said.
Modi said the politics of appeasement is behind heaping insult on Bajrang Bali. "Congress people abuse the entire Lingayat community and abuse the OBC community. They only see vote bank politics in everything. The politics of appeasement is behind what the Congress did regarding Bajrang Bali," he said.
Modi said the Congress and JDS governments insulted Karnataka's rich heritage at every step and Hindu faith was also seen through the prism of appeasement politics.
"There is no such corner of Karnataka where our rich heritage is not seen, but the governments of Congress and its ally JDS insulted this heritage at every step. Our faith, our heritage were also seen in vote bank appeasement politics," he said.
"What did they not do with the temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya? Be it Kashi Vishwanath, Kedarnath, Ujjain Mahakal Mahalok, Congress does not like when we decorate such pilgrimages," Modi added.
Modi said India has been an ancient global power in terms of spices, but under Congress rule, the country started losing its identity even on turmeric. "But we promoted our spices all over the world. Today the demand for our spices has increased all over the world," he said.
The Congress leaders also mocked him during his visit to Bandipur Tiger Reserve for celebrating the achievement with the people, Modi said, adding: "They used derogatory words against the Lingayat community and the OBC community... Congress always indulges in the politics of appeasement," he alleged.
Modi said Congress party's biggest 'Garibi Hatao' guarantee given by their top leader (then prime minister Indira Gandhi) has become a big lie. "Today, Congress is distributing false guarantees. However, they should tell what happened to the 'Garibi Hatao' guarantee they gave around five decades ago. Their biggest guarantee given by their top leader has become a big lie," he said.
He said in the last nine years, India has come out of being a 'Fragile Five' economy to become the fifth largest economy in the world. "During this time, India made new records in exports and FDI. However, Karnataka wasn't able to take advantage of this when Congress and JDS govt ruled Karnataka," he added.
When India's defence sector started getting stronger, Asia's biggest helicopter manufacturing factory was set up in Karnataka, Modi said.
"When India became the third largest startup ecosystem in the world, Karnataka became the startup capital. When the railway work in India got speeded up manifold, then the railway work got speeded up in Karnataka ... these are some of the achievements of the BJP which makes you (people) all proud, but the Congress and JDS don't feel proud of it," he said. UNI BDN SSP