.jpg?rect=0%2C0%2C2000%2C1125&auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Addressing a public rally in Karnataka’s Santhemaralli village, on Tuesday, 1 May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had unleashed a blistering attack on Congress President Rahul Gandhi and dared him "to speak in any language" for 15 minutes about the of the Siddaramaiah government without reading out from a piece of paper.achievements
Now, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has challenged PM Modi to speak about BJP’s chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa’s achievements for 15 minutes.
In a tweet posted on 2 May, Siddaramaiah said:
PM Modi had accused the state's Congress government, which he claimed was steeped in corruption, of thwarting the Centre's efforts for development.
Hitting out at the Congress president, Modi had said those currently leading the party had "no understanding" of history and the country's legacy.
“I dare the Congress president to speak in Hindi, English or the mother tongue of his mother to deliver a speech in Karnataka for 15 minutes, without reading out from a piece of paper, on the achievements of the government... people of Karnataka will draw their own conclusions,” he said while addressing the election rally.
The attack came after Gandhi had dared the PM to allow him to speak for 15 minutes in Parliament on various issues, including corruption, during the Jan Aakrosh Rally on 29 April.
Gandhi had said that the prime minister would not be able to sit for 15 minutes if he is allowed to speak.
Modi went on to say that Gandhi speaking for 15 minutes is a big thing in itself.
“I hear that I would not be able to sit, and I think... wow, what a scene it is? Congress president, sir, we cannot sit before you. You are ‘naamdar’ (famous), while I am ‘kaamdar’ (ordinary worker). We have no status to sit in front of you,” he added.
The PM also attacked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for contesting from two seats.
I was reading the papers and saw a ‘2+1’ formula in Karnataka. This is a version of family politics in Karnataka. This is the innovation of the sleeping CM of Karnataka. He is fearing defeat so changing seats, fighting two seats. And, in his old seat he has sent his son.Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
However, Siddaramaiah quickly responded to the attack by reminding Modi that he too contested from two parliamentary constituencies during the 2014 general elections.
Greeting the workers on the occasion of May Day, Modi also took a dig at Gandhi for not acknowledging the contribution of workers towards 100 percent electrification of villages achieved under his government.
April 28th is a day that will be written in golden letters in the country’s history, because our hardworking people made electricity reach the last non-electrified village Leisang in Manipur... But the new leader of the Congress did not utter two words of praise for the workers who made it possible.Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
Modi, who started his five-day visit to Karnataka on Tuesday, is slated to address 14 more election rallies in the state after this.
(This copy has been updated to include a tweet from Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah)
(With inputs from PTI)
(The Quint is now on WhatsApp. To receive handpicked stories on topics you care about, subscribe to our WhatsApp services. Just go to TheQuint.com/WhatsApp and hit send.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)