Modi blows poll bugle for Congress-mukt Karnataka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched the BJP’s campaign for the Karnataka Assembly polls scheduled to be held later this year, giving a call to make “Congress-mukt” State. Modi also declared BS Yeddyurappa as the party chief ministerial face.

Addressing a massive rally at the Palace grounds in Bengaluru to mark the end of Nava Nirmana Parivarthana rally taken out by BJP strongman Yeddyurappa, Modi said, “Looking at your enthusiasm, countdown has begun for the Congress Government here.”

“The Congress Gover-nment is on the exit doors. For development, bring back the BJP to make Karnataka one of the favourite destinations in the world,” Modi said.

However, the Prime Minister remained silent on one of the most Rs burning’ issues — Mahadayi water sharing dispute between Karnataka and Goa — that has created massive unrest in the State. Hundreds of protesters of several Kannada organisations and farmers have already been taken into custody. Mahadayi has become a major election issue for both the BJP and the ruling Congress. The farmers and pro-Kannada outfits had given a call for Bengaluru bandh on Sunday, but it was called off after the Karnataka High Court declared it as “unconstitutional”. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who welcomed the Prime Minister, at the Bengaluru airport, asked him to intervene to resolve Mahadayi issue.

Launching a scathing attack on the Siddaramiah Government for alleged corruption and non-utilisation of Central funds, Modi called it a “10 per cent” Government. He said several Congress leaders have been facing allegations of corruption and there have been reports of bribes and commission in Government projects.

“The Congress Government in Karnataka is being recognised as 10 per cent Government as no work is possible without 10 per cent commission,” he added.

The Prime Minister said the people of Karnataka have decided to make Karnataka Congress Mukt. He said his Government believes in the mantra of “Reform, Perform and Transform”.

Declaring Yeddyurappa as the next Chief Minister, Modi said, “If BS Yeddyurappa, the son of a farmer, becomes the Chief Minister of Karnataka, the projects for farmers will work at its best because Yeddyurappa has the farmer’s best interest at heart... When facilities are provided to villages, migration to the cities will go down and the mounting pressure on cities will be eased.”

Thousands of party workers from across the State attended Modi’s rally along with youth and IT professionals. “When the UPA was in power at the Centre, Karnataka was allotted Rs 73,000 crore. After the BJP came at the Centre, it was decided to allot Rs 2 lakh crore to Karnataka. It is nearly 180 per cent more than what the Congress provided,” Modi said, hitting at the Congress Government in the State for non-utilisation of the funds.

Modi said his Government was committed to infrastructure development of the State and 160-km long suburban railway network will be built with Rs 17,000 crore in Bengaluru. “It will benefit around 15 lakh commuters. Not only will the project help commuters with traffic, but it will also help clean the city’s environment,” he added.

He said more than one crore loans have been sanctioned for the people of Karnataka under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. More than 1.16 crore accounts were opened in the State under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, he said.

“It opened the doors of banking to the poor and lower middle class,” said Modi, adding around 8.5 lakh women have been provided free LPG connection under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. “Around 34 lakh toilets have been built under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan,” he further said.

Modi also reiterated the Government’s Budget promise to increase the minimum support price for farmers to 1.5 times the production cost of crops.

He did mention about the fruits and vegetables under “Operation Green” which was introduced in the recent Budget. He said, “TOP means tomato, onion and potato. Operation Green will be beneficial for farmers just like the Amul model was successful in the dairy business.”

The Prime Minister blasted the ruling Congress Government over increasing crime in the State and also referred to the murders of BJP workers. “While the world is talking about ease of doing business, the BJP Government is talking about ease of living, but the Karnataka Government is talking about ease of doing murder,” he said.

The 90-day yatra, which was flagged off by BJP president Amit Shah on November 1, passed through 224 Assembly constituencies in the State.

Ahead of the PM’s rally, there was a twitter war between Siddaramaiah and Yeddyurappa.

The Chief Minister welcomed the Prime minister to Bengaluru, and asked him help the State resolve the Mahadayi water dispute. “I am glad you are making time to visit the country’s start-up and innovation hub, Namma Bengaluru, today,” Siddaramaiah said on Twitter.

 “On behalf of my people, I urge you to find the time for Karnataka’s drinking water needs and help us resolve the Mahadayi dispute,” he added.

Yeddyurappa attacked Siddaramaiah and tweeted that the State had become ‘No.1 in corruption’ under the Congress and has faced over 3,000 farmer deaths, collapse of law and order.