Modi, Rahul Play ‘Game of Accusations’ in Karnataka Ahead of Polls

PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi played a ‘Game of Accusations’ while addressing rallies in the state ahead of polls.

PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi battle it out in poll-bound Karnataka.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam

Ahead of the polls in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi played a ‘Game of Accusations’ while addressing rallies in the state on 3 May.

At his rally in Bidar, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Congress government in the state had completed 90 percent of the objectives in their manifesto since they came to power. He added, that while the Congress party is the one that does most of the real work, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tries to take credit for most of the results.

At another rally in Bellary, the Prime Minister claimed the Congress government could wash away all criticisms, had they paid a little attention to the water crisis in the state. Here are some of the issues that the two leaders addressed in their rallies:

1. Corruption

The Prime Minister, in Bellary, claimed that the Karnataka Chief Minister was so corrupt that his government might as well be called the “Sidda-Ruppaiah” government. He further added that one of the ministers from the “Sidda-Ruppaiah government” were involved in the coal scam, and was yet given a ticket by the CM.

Rahul Gandhi however claimed that the BJP government had already scammed the nation through demonetisation and GST, and further accused the Modi government of supporting corrupt politicians.

PM claims that he is fighting corruption while giving speeches on stage. But on that stage, there is Yeddyurappa who has served term in jail along with other ministers who have served term in jail with Yeddyurappa. He’s trying to take Reddy brothers out of jail and making them a part of Vidhan Sabha. There is the entire gang of Sholay – Gabbar Singh, Sambha, Kalia, everyone is being taken to the Vidhan Sabha.

Rahul Gandhi, Congress President

Incidentally, the Prime Minister was seen sharing the stage with G Somasekhara Reddy, one of the Reddy brothers tied to allegations of illegal mining in Bellary.

2. Anti-Dalits

Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that BJP government was always pro-Dalits and minorities and hence elected a Dalit president and an ‘OBC Chaiwala’ Prime Minister. However, the Congress never supported the same.

We took a decision to bring justice to OBC category. We said we will make amendments in the Constitution and provide them with constitutional rights, but when we brought the law in parliament, Congress did not let us pass it. In the previous election, Dalit leader Kharge ji campaigned as the CM candidate, so Dalits voted for him but the situation changed after election

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

Rahul Gandhi addressed the issue claiming that if the BJP cared for Dalits then he would not just go and put garlands on Dr Ambedkar’s statues but break his silence when atrocities were committed against them in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.

3. Women’s Safety

Claiming that his government was not ‘anti-women’ as accused by Congress, Modi said that the fact that they elected the first woman Defence Minister came as a shock to Congress.

However, Rahul Gandhi hit out at the PM for his delay in responding to the Kathua and Unnao rape cases.

Forget Beti Padhao, but now you should use Beti Bachao from BJP MLAs as the slogan. A BJP MLA in UP rapes a woman and you don’t say anything. Modi ji, say something. What happened with a small girl in Jammu and Kashmir and what was done by your MLA in UP say something against it. For the first time our PM went outside and on an international forum, he was told that you are not working for protection of the women in India. 

Rahul Gandhi, Congress President

4. Farmer’s Issues

Rahul Gandhi asked the PM why he did not waive loans for the farmers while he agreed to do the same for the 15 biggest businessmen in the country. The Prime Minister however, spoke of his policies for the farmers that assure them of getting a fair price for their crop, even in case of a crisis.

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